Ethical gift guide: for the sustainable living

Put on your best holiday mood and dive into spectacular Christmas universe. Shopping for gifts can be hard, so it’s only natural that shopping for ethical and fair trade gifts is even harder!
With all the thousands of small business out there it can be hard to find those that are really producing gifts that give back. Luckily we’re starting to see a growing trend in sustainably conscious craftsmanship on Etsy. Many of them using their business to do good.
From sustainably sourced materials, to ethically manufactured products these gifts are actually putting something good back into the world.
Whether you’re shopping for ethical Christmas gifts or sustainable birthday present ideas, or perhaps a little something for yourself, this ethical gift guide has you covered.
Sweater  and Leg Warmers 
You can look up to these adorable warming sweaters for a winter season by DesignbyGUS, and best WoolenClogs boots and leg warmers made of cruelty free wool from European farms. Stylish and natural clothing will make you crave for a cozy evening with your family in front of the fireplace.
Vegan Soy Candles
Light is an essential part of a traditional interior setting for Christmas, so why not let it be as lavish and decorative as possible. Embellish your home with candles in different forms to light up the room in a trendy fashion. Please choose these vegan  and nature friendly soy wax candles by MiLiCrafts. The candles are made from sustainable and renewable plant based wax which benefits people and environment. The maker chooses to work with natural soy wax because it is free of animal testing, petroleum and paraffin products. These candles bring joy to your home while taking care of the environment. Also you can find scented pine cones for a small gift idea.
Pine Cones
Also you can enjoy wonderful handmade ceramics by MrBowlCeramics. Clay is one of the most beautiful and durable options available for pottery. Derived directly from the Earth, ceramic is also one of the most natural materials you can use in your home interior designs.
Create a harmonious look by blending matte surfaces with shiny glazing and pastoral structures, preferably up against a deep colored background.
Handmade Pottery
Use natural linen napkins for your table instead of thous made of paper or any other material. Flax is very friendly to earth. So a set of linen napkins, table runner or apron by CozyLinen will be a perfect housewarming gift for your friends. It is a practical gift for everybody and linen fabric last for years.
Full Apron
And what about home decor?
We have so many options for you to choose of. Just have a look to these wonderful Christmas ornaments which are made from foam base and natural Lamb's ear leaves by Kaleda. Or this scented ornaments set made of foam base pepper and cloves.
Christmas Ornaments
Scented Ornaments
One of the best and cutest interior decor, making you feel comfortable is pillows. Pillowlink is offering much more than just a pillowcases. It is truly sustainable living idea by using linen fabric pieces to make your home looking better.
Bolster pillow
Christmas is time for giving and receiving. So don’t forget decorative gift wrapping makes it’s easy to give each gift a personal and exclusive touch that will surely make the receiver exited even before unwrapping the gift. Have a look how we used these felted acorn ornaments by Vaida Petreikis for gift wrapping ;)
Felted acorn ornaments

Table etiquette basics. Things to do or not to do with napkins

Adorable table decor by Svenciu virtuve
Holiday is near, so why not talk about napkins and dining etiquette basics! ⠀
You will be dining at gatherings where formal dining protocol may be in order (or at least appreciated). But how many of us actually know what to do?
So we decided to make a short list of tips and common mistakes of what to do (or avoid) with napkins.


Table linens by CozyLinen
1. First and the basic rule is to put napkin on your lap and don't leave it on the table.
2. If there's a host, wait until he or she picks up a napkin, then pick up yours and place it on your lap. When there isn't a host, wait until two or three people in your group are seated, then pick up your napkin.
3. A large napkin is folded in half with the fold facing the waistline, while a smaller napkin is opened completely. In upscale restaurants, a server may drape a napkin on your lap.
4. Don't unfold your napkin above the table. Unfold your napkin, just above your lap, underneath the table.
Soy candles and scented pine cones by MiLiCrafts
5. If you leave the table during a meal, place your napkin, loosely folded, on the seat of your chair. A napkin is never returned to the table until you're ready to leave; it stays on your lap, even after the meal is finished.
6. When you're ready to leave the table, pick up the napkin by the center, gather it loosely, and place it to the left of the plate. If the plate has been removed, you may place the napkin on the table in front of you.
7. The baddest manners during the dinner is blowing you nose into your napkin, using it as a bib, throwing it on the plate when you're finished. Never, never ever do this!
Ceramic pottery by MrBowlCeramics
8. If you bite into something difficult to chew (like a piece of meat or gristle), you don't spit it into your cloth napkin. When no one is looking, you discreetly take it out with your two fingers and put it on the edge of your plate.
9. Don't place your napkin back on the table while others are still eating.
10. Don't blot lipstick on a cloth napkin or use it as a handkerchief.
11. Do use the napkin to blot the lips, not to wipe the mouth.
Photos by Simona Benetyte

Things you need to know about linen clothes

Linen is known to be the world’s strongest natural fiber. It is so durable it’s even used in paper money to increase strength! It is thicker than cotton and lasts a very long time. Linen textiles appear to be some of the oldest in the world: their history goes back many thousands of years. It was sometimes used as a form of currency in ancient Egypt. Linen is a more expensive raw material than cotton, but that’s pretty much the only con we could find.
Knitted linen sweater by GUDOknitwear
So whats so great about linen? Linen clothes are best to wear during the summer months and in warm climates. Linen fibers are hollow, moving air and moisture naturally and fabric feels cool to touch, a phenomenon which indicates its higher conductivity. Clothes made of linen are also lightweight, wick away moisture and dry quickly. These properties allow linen clothing to feel cool, airy and light on the body. It is valued for its ability to keep cool in the summer months and trap warmth in colder weather.

Sleeveless top by CozyLinen
The fabric is natural yet elegant, and its distinct texture adds a touch of interest to an outfit.
The most common complaint about linen is that it wrinkles very easily. Dennis Green share a real story of a nightmare wearing linen shirt. Linen has poor elasticity and does not spring back readily, explaining why it wrinkles. It is smooth, making the finished fabric lint-free, and gets softer the more it is washed. And if you know how to soften linen fabric the nightmare can become a daydream. Thanks to the emergence of new technologies for processing linen fibers, manufacturers are able to significantly reduce the effect of crushing.

Loose linen tunic by d96p
Linen should not be dried too much by tumble drying, and it is much easier to iron when damp. Nevertheless, the tendency to wrinkle is often considered part of linen's particular "charm", and many modern linen garments are designed to be air-dried on a good clothes hanger and worn without the necessity of ironing.
Handmade linen clothes is very high quality. You can read more in the CozyLinen blog how they value their clients and what is the purpose behind it.
Linen men's costume by BlackFicus
A characteristic often associated with linen yarn is the presence of "slubs", or small knots which occur randomly along its length. In the past, slubs were traditionally considered to be defects, and were associated with low quality linen. However, in the case of many present-day linen fabrics, particularly in the decorative furnishing industry, slubs are considered as part of the aesthetic appeal of an expensive natural product. In addition, slubs do not compromise the integrity of the fabric, and therefore they are not viewed as a defect. However, the very finest linen has very consistent diameter threads, with no slubs at all.
Linen scarf by LapelisStudio
Linen fabrics have a high natural luster; their natural color ranges between shades of ivory, ecru, tan, or grey. Pure white linen is created by heavy bleaching. Linen fabric typically varies somewhat in thickness and is crisp and textured, but it can in some cases feel stiff and rough, and in other cases feel soft and smooth. When properly prepared, linen fabric has the ability to absorb and lose water rapidly. Linen can absorb a fair amount of moisture without feeling unpleasantly damp to the skin, unlike cotton.
Linen tunic by LinenDi
Linen outfits are universal - they can be combined with jeans, leather, silk, chiffon, synthetic fabrics. And if you do not mind the inherent flaws, boldly dress in elegant dresses or shirts, going for a walk, to the office or to a cafe. From high fashion to casual wear!
Mens clothing by POWHA




Destination wedding - 10 Pros and cons

Thinking about destination wedding it’s like music to the ears - beautiful places and instant honeymoon in some exotic location.
Like anything else in life, destination weddings have both pros and cons. Before you make a decision to plan a long distance wedding, consider the following information, which will help you to choose is it the  right option. Cause while this type of ceremony can be a dream come true for some couples, it is a nightmare for others.
Location Mallorca, Spain - Dress by AriadneBridal
Pros
1. The reason it is simpler is that many destinations have pre-designed wedding packages that are created by professional wedding planners. The packages usually include an onsite wedding coordinator to help you with planning, getting the officiant, obtaining your marriage license, and catering and all other components a beautiful wedding requires, and the bride and groom need only make a few decisions and the rest is taken care of for them. Make sure to get the right one that you could trust them and put the wedding in their hands and walk away sipping a fruity drink.
2. Destination weddings are typically less expensive than local weddings. The couple pays for their resort stay and the wedding package or their unique design, and the guests pay their own way to the location and their accommodations. With a smaller invitation list, you can avoid feeling "forced" to invite the cousin you can't stand, or the in-law that everyone fights with. Just invite your very closest friends and family to the intimate ceremony and celebration, or keep it romantic and don't invite anyone. This also means you get more quality time with each other and guests. You may get discounts and deals from the resorts when you extend your stay, book a certain number of rooms and arrange your honeymoon at the same venue.
Bridal headpiece by FloralJewellery
3. A destination wedding isn’t one your guests will forget. They may not remember the lace on your dress, but they’ll remember that time they danced on the beach under the moonlight at your wedding. Your wedding not only provides an opportunity for guests to embrace a new place, but the opportunity to make unforgettable memories of their own. Pictures of your wedding will be beautiful. Whether it’s at a sunny beach, snowy mountain top, or European castle, the backdrop for your special day will be absolutely stunning and unique. You can also almost guarantee that none of your friends or family have gotten married in the location you choose, making your wedding one of a kind!
4. Photos of your wedding will be amazing. You will need to decide whether you will trust a local photographer included in the package of your wedding planer or you will find some lovable one and offer him to go for a journey with you.  If you are taking a photographer to a new destination make sure he will have time to have a look of the wonderful spaces and suggest you where to shoot. These wonderful memories will be important and will remain for the rest of your life.
5. And the best thing is that the honeymoon starts early! A destination wedding is basically a vacation with a wedding included! The entire wedding weekend is like a mini-moon plus a party. It’s easy to continue honeymooning at the venue after your guests have gone home, or you can jet off to another honeymoon location!
Photographer Simona Benetyte Dress WardrobeByDulcinea Wedding accessories FloralJewellery
Cons
1. Having a wedding ceremony in a foreign country is not easy, nor is it cheap. You’ll have to pay for plane tickets and accommodations on top of things like invitations, catering, and a venue. There are ways you can keep your costs low, but a destination wedding will likely never be cheap.
2. There will be fewer guests. You have to assume that a large number of your friends and even some family won’t be able to attend your wedding. Unless you’re going to pay for everyone’s flights, rooms, and other expenses, expect some loved ones to respectfully decline the invite. Older relatives may also have trouble getting around or may be in too poor of health to travel. It might mean that some of your most special guests will have to miss it. But don’t worry, you can always have a party when you return home and invite all those that couldn’t attend.
3. You aren’t in control. This kind of wedding isn’t the best thing for brides who likes to be in control of all the planning. Since you won’t be there in the flesh until right before the wedding, you will have to make all your decisions without being at the location. Yes, many places offer a wedding coordinator as part of the package, but some leave all of the choices up to the bride. Not everyone will be comfortable making long distance decisions about food, flowers, accommodations, and decorations.
Ceramic pottery MISSDISHceramics Table linen CozyLinen
4. Before getting married in a foreign country, you have to make sure to do some research on getting a marriage license and any other required documentation to have a legal marriage in that country. Each country has different laws, and you don’t want to find out your marriage wasn’t actually legal! This can be stressful for a couple who is already busy planning a wedding, but the burden can be removed by using a wedding planner based in that country or by booking an all inclusive wedding package from a resort. Which brings us to our next point…
5. Not Much Alone Time. Destination weddings often mean you and your guest list, arrive a day or so before the ceremony and stay for a few days. This means the morning after your wedding, you’ll probably be greeted by some of your guests at breakfast. Your romantic alone time might be shared with a crowd until their vacations are over. But this is a great way to say “thank you” for your friends and family taking the time and spending the money to join you on your special day, consider giving them the gift of a once in a lifetime outing! Giving your guests a day on a sailboat or a tour of a castle makes you hands down the best host ever! However, this is another added expense and requires extra planning that can be a real headache. But if you can swing it, it’s a great way to thank your guests and create memories that will last a lifetime.

The decision is after you!
Wedding jewellery YourMagicStones Wedding dress AriadneBridal



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