December
27th 2010
Virtual Business Awards results – Shortlisted!

Posted under Mimimyne news

Just a quick post to say thanks to all my newsletter subscribers, Facebook fans and Twitter followers who voted for me in the Virtual Business Awards – I was shortlisted along with many other fabulous companies but sadly didn’t get a prize this time. I really appreciated all your votes and will definitely enter again next year! Thanks again and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday – and I’d like to wish you a Happy New Year as well!

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December
27th 2010
Organic Clothes

Posted under Other news

The term ‛organic’ has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, from food to clothing. But what does it mean and do organic products really live up to the hype? Organic clothing is becoming more and more readily available and many parents are choosing it for their children, but is there actually a benefit?

To be certified organic, neither the growing nor the manufacturing process of clothes can use any harmful chemicals and none of the plants can be genetically modified. Cotton is one of the most common fabrics used to make baby clothes, however cotton production is one of the most chemically intensive processes in modern agriculture; because it is not a foodstuff there is no restriction on the amount and type of pesticides and herbicides used on it. Manufacturing cotton into fabric also uses thousands of tons of chemicals such as bleach, which in some cases can be poured back into the environment.

The result of this is that up to four kilos of chemicals can be used in the manufacture of just one t-shirt. But these chemicals do not just affect the environment – they can also damage the wearer, especially if that wearer is a baby. A newborn baby’s skin is thinner and more porous than an adult’s skin, so absorbs these chemicals more readily. From conception to age three is when babies’ bodies and brains grow the fastest, making them even more vulnerable to environmental toxins, which can stay in the body for years. Moreover, babies’ delicate skin is more susceptible to skin allergies, which can be caused or irritated by the range of herbicides, pesticides, chemicals and dyes used in the manufacture of clothes. Organic clothing is hypoallergenic and does not contain any harmful chemicals or toxins.

The amount of chemicals used to process traditional fabric also mean that it is less durable. Conventionally produced cotton is bleached, softened, dyed and coated in chemicals in production, all of which weaken the fibres and mean that a garment will begin to break down after 10-20 washes. The production of organic fabrics results in a product which is much more resilient, although no less soft and can withstand up to 100 washes before it starts to break down – especially important for messy babies!

Despite all these benefits, organic clothing is still seen by some as unstylish and boring. However, this is no longer the case. Organic clothing can be made from many different materials such as wool, cotton, hemp, soy and bamboo, so it is available in a wide range of styles and designs. And it is not all beige, either : safe dyes made from natural sources in a whole rainbow of colours are used to make organic clothing as colourful as any other clothing you could buy. Pregnant fashion is only one example of this new stylish organic clothing for babies.

To some, organic baby clothing may seem like a fad, but those who choose it can be safe in the knowledge that they are saving money with more durable items and protecting their baby from harmful chemicals and toxins in their clothes. The modern world is full of damaging pollutants, but organic clothing is one way that parents can protect their children.

(This is a Guest Post from Yummy Mummy Fashion)

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November
12th 2010
Merry Mache Eco Friendly Nativity Set great gift for under £30

Posted under Eco Christmas Gift Ideas up to £30

The Merry Mache Nativity Set is fun for the whole family to decorate. It makes a lovely Christmas gift, or you can buy it for your own family to enjoy year after year as part of an eco-friendly family Christmas. This is made using recycled and recyclable materials and comes in a reusable wooden box.

Papier Mache Nativity Set ready for decoration

Papier Mache Nativity Set ready for decoration

Recycled and Reusable Nativity Set made from Papier Mache

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November
12th 2010
New stocking filler for foodies: signed and dedicated edition of the Country Kitchen by Jocasta Innes

Posted under Eco Christmas Gift Ideas up to £20

Country Kitchen by Jocasta Innes, signed and with personal dedication

Country Kitchen by Jocasta Innes, signed and with personal dedication

This book, available exclusively from Mimimyne, is by well known author Jocasta Innes and explains how to smoke fish, dry meats and vegetables, can fruits, and make pasta, beer, bread, butter, ice cream, cheese, sausages, and wine. The author is also offering to personalise each paperback with a personal dedication and signature, at no extra cost! The perfect stocking filler for a foodie or Jocasta Innes fan.

From the author:
“Anyone who values my Pauper’s Cookbook might like to own its successor, the Country Kitchen, which takes the challenge to eat better for less a stage further. I wrote it during the 1970′s craze for self-sufficiency and can say hand on heart that every recipe and technique described here was tested and tried by my family – for example, we smoked meat in a converted fridge in our back garden! Country Kitchen recounts in detail the processes traditionally used to deal with seasonal gluts and occasional bounty such as meat, fish, game, fruit, vegetables, funghi – even milk – to ensure they lasted the winter, deliciously and safely.

So the book features how to’s for smoking fish, making rillettes and sausages, drying apples and mushrooms, making soft cheeses or country wines and ginger beer is all there and much more with a wealth of recipes. dried Argentine chorizo (a family recipe) is a winner, and the marmalade recipe I used is the best ever. This is the book professional foodies like Tom Jame rate most highly of all the ones I’ve written and the one I am proudest of.”

The RRP is £7.49 but we are offering it at just £5.50 plus delivery as an imaginative Christmas present for anyone who takes cooking seriously and has to cope with the overflow of a vegetable patch, orchard or allotment. Jocasta Innes was one of the leading self-sufficiency, cookery and interior design and home-making gurus of the 1970′s and 1980′s and I should know, I’m her daughter and a lot of these recipes and techniques were tested out on me! I remember wearing smocks, playing with papier-mache toys and helping to create a beautiful Christmas tree with decorations all made by my mother.

As a taster here is an appropriately festive recipe for brandy snaps, reproduced with the permission of the author:

“Brandy Snaps

These look impressive with their lacy texture, but they are easy to make. You don’t have to use brandy, they are tasty without – some people fill them with whipped cream.

50g (2 oz) butter
50g (2 oz) castor sugar
50g (2 oz) golden syrup
50g (2 oz) plain flour
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 teaspoon brandy (optional)

Melt the sugar, syrup and butter together in a pan, then stir the flour, ginger, lemon rind and brandy and mix well. Drop the mixture a teaspoon at a time onto a greased baking sheet, leaving a space of 7cm (3 in) between each. Bake in a cool oven (150 degrees Centigrade, 300 degrees Farenheit, Mark 2) for about 10 minutes. Leave on the sheet to ‘set’ for a few minutes, then detach and roll round the handle of a wooden spoon to make the characteristic tube shape. Cool before storing”.

Copyright Jocasta Innes, all rights reserved.

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November
10th 2010
Don’t Put Baby in the Corner and the Force is Strong in this one! Perfect gifts for an eco baby

Posted under Eco Christmas Gift Ideas up to £20

Have you seen Twisted Twee’s wonderful “Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner” and “The Force is Strong in this One” T shirts? These beautiful T-shirts are custom-printed by Twisted Twee for their film buff fans on organic cotton and would make a wonderful Christmas present for a style-conscious and retro baby boy or girl. Twisted Twee T-shirts all are very popular presents and make wonderful eco gifts for new dads and mums and their gorgeous and very stylish babies! At £16 plus £3 delivery these come in at well under £20 and are always very popular gifts.

Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner

Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner


The Force is Strong in this One Organic Baby T Shirt

The Force is Strong in this One Organic Baby T Shirt

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November
4th 2010
Please support Mimimyne and vote for me to win the Virtual Business of the Year Awards!

Posted under Mimimyne news

I was thrilled to find out that I’ve been nominated for the Virtual Business of the Year Awards. This is an exciting award run by People Per Hour to reward virtual businesses like mine and I would LOVE your vote! Please visit my page and vote for me if you would like to support green businesses like Mimimyne!

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October
31st 2010
Eco and organic T Shirt perfect Christmas gift for a baby girl!

Posted under Eco Christmas Gift Ideas up to £20

I don’t have an awful lot of pink things for sale at Mimimyne, because I wanted to focus on designs that suited boys and girls equally well and allowed them to express their personalities. However, I had to make an exception in the case of Animal Tails’ beautiful, vibrant organic pink cotton baby T shirt, featuring an endangered species, the Przewalski’s Horse. This beautiful creature, originally a wild horse in China, has been reintroduced to the wild from a zoo breeding colony of only fifteen animals and is now slowly reestablishing itself.

Last year Animal Tails were chosen for the Oscars goodie bags for stars and celebrities for their organic and ethical qualities as well as their beautiful designs and colours, so you’ll be in stellar company if you choose one of these! All Animal Tails children’s clothes are GOTS certified organic cotton and 1% of profits go to help the Africat Foundation. The T Shirt costs only £14.95 plus £3 delivery. We are also offering beautiful gift boxes from Animal Tails which are only £1.50 extra, so if you want to send a lovely Christmas gift it will all be wrapped for you – all this for £19.45 altogether! All the Animal Tails Baby T Shirts are available in 12 to 18 months and 18 to 24 month sizes.

Przewalski's Horse organic pink baby t shirt

Przewalski's Horse organic pink baby t shirt

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October
26th 2010
Only 60 Days Shopping Left till Christmas: Moomin T Shirt for £20

Posted under Eco Christmas Gift Ideas up to £20

I’m starting a series of eco Christmas gift ideas for great gifts for under £20 to help you out in the run-up to Christmas (less than 60 days left folks, although I’m sure not everyone is hearing sleigh bells yet!). The first gift I’d like to highlight which comes in at a very fairly priced £20 is the gorgeous Moomin T Shirt by Green Eyed Monster for ages0-6m, 6-12m and 1-2 yrs (the 2-6 years old t shirt costs an extra £2).

How much do we love the Moomintrolls? Their appeal has not dimmed over the years, in fact the stories and fantastic illustrations simply seem more enticing. In 100% organic jersey cotton, your little one is sure to love this cute retro t shirt.

Green Eyed Monster launched this range to mark the 65th anniversary of the timeless Moomin character in 2010! Created by Tove Jansson in 1945 the designs are as fresh and playful today as they were then. Her intricate style and bold colours lend much to the vibrancy and almost contemporary feel of the Moomin characters and the Moomin valley they call home.

This Moomin™ t-shirt fashioned from super soft organic jersey cotton in a vintage red colour for that retro feel. The design features the happiest most fun-loving Moomin image you could hope for. Green Eyed Monster have given it a contemporary twist by scaling it right up.

Moomin T shirt, organic cotton t shirt

Moomin T Shirt in organic cotton

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October
9th 2010
This Sunday is 10:10:10! How Mimimyne is joining in the celebrations

Posted under Other news

10:10:10

10:10:10

This Sunday is 10/10/10, the tenth of October 2010. This is the date that many businesses, including mine, have pledged to achieve a 10% reduction of carbon emissions. My business is home-based, and I’ve done a lot this year to achieve my target:

  1. Mimimyne has switched the office energy supply to to 100% green energy with Ovo
  2. Mimimyne has moved to a new build home office which has a great energy efficiency rating, insulation and double glazing
  3. Mimimyne has been audited and accredited by Carbon Smart 2010 and set up a new energy saving action plan
  4. Mimimyne has installed a PowerDown energy plug to turn off all computer peripherals when the PC is turned off
  5. Mimimyne now uses only bicycles or Streetcar for personal use and only bicycles or public transport for business use
  6. Mimimyne uses reclaimed or vintage office furniture and has low energy lightbulbs throughout.
  7. Mimimyne uses recycled and if possible, recyclable packaging whenever possible. All business stationery is printed on recycled paper

Mimimyne has some outstanding items on our energy saving action plan, including installing an energy monitor and composting. However, I hope to work my way through these by the end of 2010 at the latest!

For my low-carbon lunch celebration, I’ll be roasting a Sunday lunch of UK organic beef with UK grown vegetables (I’m afraid my local sourcing didn’t get much further than my local Waitrose, but the Essentials range restricts itself to only UK farmers and producers who are accredited by LEAF and are committed to protecting the environment, which is great). I’ll also make apple crumble with home grown apples from my mother’s apple trees: you can’t get more local than that! I’ll post a picture tomorrow.

10.10.10 is also my tenth wedding anniversary, so it’s be a very memorable date for me!

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September
26th 2010
Mumpreneur Awards 2010

Posted under Mimimyne news

I was nominated for Best Online Business at the Mumpreneur Conference and Awards 2010 and although I didn’t win, it was afantastic event as always with a lot of my favourite speakers, including Alison Rothwell of SEO Training Club, there to motivate, inform and inspire the audience of businesswomen. I went to two seminars, one ‘break-out session’ on SEO and listened to two motivational speakers. More info and links coming soon, meanwhile there’s an interview with me below by Family Friendly Working which talks about what I most enjoyed at the conference.

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