I previously wrote for an online magazine, called cool.girl magazine, which was founded and run by a group of young women that met through a Facebook group, back in 2020. We had all decided to come together to create an online magazine for like minded individuals. The magazine was live from December 2020, to July 2021, and we collaborated in coming up with topics, content calls, writing, photography etc. Writing for cool.girl magazine which has provided me with editorial skills and experience in working for an online publication. My role includes pitching and writing my own articles, as well as proofreading, researching and working to strict deadlines. Unfortunately, the founder made the decision to close the magazine down – which meant that the website was no longer live, and my work could not be accessed anymore. I have decided to post some of the work that I still have access to here, on my own blog so that it can be easily accessed.
Valentines Day isn’t just for couples.
With constant Valentine’s Day reminders in shops from very early on within the year, it is no surprise that those not in a relationship can end up dreading it. However, this doesn’t have to be the case, why should anyone dread a day of celebration, just because they aren’t in a romantic relationship?
The whole idea of the holiday seems to be designed solely for couples but Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be specifically for couples – for example, in Finland V-Day is largely celebrated as ‘friends day’, which is known as ‘Ystävänpäivä’ in Finnish. Although it is known as friend’s day, this doesn’t make it just for friends either, it’s celebrated by friends, families and couples! It’s much more inclusive.
With lockdown still ongoing in the UK, I think that we could take inspiration from this. What better time than in the peak of loneliness when we are all struggling to stay positive, to display our platonic love and appreciation to those that we hold dear to us? There are many ways that you could be showing the people that you love just how much they mean to you.
For friends, family;
- Send a card 💌
It doesn’t have to be all lovey-dovey, you can keep it platonic and simply share your appreciation for that person. It could even be handmade if you want to spend some time making it more personal to your friendship!
2. Send flowers 💐
I’d recommend supporting an independent florist, many of these offer same day delivery and customisation to suit the recipient.
3. Brunch 🥯
Normally I’d recommend going out somewhere for a meal or a coffee and spending some time together in person. Of course that’s not realistic right now, but what’s stopping you from setting up a video call and cooking together from the safety of your own kitchens, or ordering a takeaway, then sitting down to eat together? Celebrations don’t have to come to a screeching halt, we can just find ways to adapt and make them work as best as we can! It may not be the same, but it is better than nothing at all.
It seems as though ‘Galentine’s Day’ has become more and more popular in recent years, which is amazing! Although this tends to be celebrated on the 13th of February, who’s to say it can’t be extended/merged with the ‘real’ Valentine’s Day? Platonic love, romantic love – who cares! Galentine’s Day encourages platonic love and is mostly celebrated by women, but I think we need to get everyone in on this one!
If you feel like extending your friendship to new people on V-Day, then why not sign up for a pen-pal scheme? There are so many different schemes to choose from, and there’s many people already signed up that would probably really appreciate hearing from you.
- ‘Global penfriends’
On Global Penfriends, users give you a short bio about themselves, tell you their age and the country they are from! You can register for free and complete a search to find someone within the age range/region you are looking for.
2. ‘Age UK’
Age UK is a charity for older people within the UK, it might be nice to spread happiness and joy to those spending time alone on Valentine’s Day. You can even do a quick search on the websites to find organisations local to you, which may appreciate being contacted directly with a pen pal offer, or support in other ways.
3. ‘Depression UK’
Depression UK is a charity that aims to support those impacted, or at risk from depression. The intention is to encourage self help, recovery and personal growth. This scheme can be as physical letters, or even as emails and it encourages friendship.
4. ‘Bridging the Gap (BTG)’
BTG is a voluntary group that caters to prisoners, and they aim to aid in reducing re-offending by helping discharged prisoners settle into their communities once they have been released. There are a few guidelines you must follow if you decide to go for this scheme, and you must be 18 or over to do so.
There are many ways that you can spread happiness on V-Day, regardless of whether you have a partner, or not. Celebrations shouldn’t be limited, especially on a day that celebrates love. Finland has been celebrating Friend’s Day since the 1980s, despite the celebration being somewhat new, it’s still incredibly popular amongst Finns, and has become a big part of Finnish culture. Why not continue to show platonic love, each and every year? Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be something that single people shy away from, but rather embraced. Friendships are just as important as romance, being single isn’t shameful and it shouldn’t stop you from spreading love on a day of happiness.
Coffee shops: The best places to go for a smaller budget in London
Whether you’re a big coffee fan or not, most of us enjoy going out to cafes with our friends. It can be so hard to pick where to go, especially when sticking to a budget, but it doesn’t have to be! To help you save time and money when going out, I’ve put together a list of a few places that I recommend trying out.
The Scandi Kitchen is such a unique place to visit, they have a great range of baked goods, coffees and more. Everything on the menu is great value for money, and always tastes amazing – I cannot recommend it enough. The coffees range from £2.50-£4.00, and they offer milk alternatives with no extra charge. The staff are so friendly, and they even have a shop downstairs, which stocks traditional groceries from countries such as Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
61 Great Titchfield St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 7PP
© scandikitchen
Hoxton Cabin has so much to offer and allows you to enjoy a warm and friendly atmosphere. If you decide to give the cabin a try, they have a big menu which includes coffee, tea, breakfast, lunch, evening food and a selection of alcohol. The coffee/tea range from £2.50-£3.50, with a 20p extra charge for milk alternatives. Hoxton Cabin is more than your average coffee stop, as they also host stand-up comedy night and local bands, if you want a little something extra on your trip out!
132 Kingsland Rd, Hackney, London E2 8DP
© HoxtonCabin
I absolutely love the vibe of an independent coffee shop, and 9/10 will go independent over a chain group. The International Comrades Coffee Shop is one that I gave a try recently, and I was pleasantly surprised. If you ever find yourself in the Mile End area, I recommend giving it a try too. Comrades works as a lovely place for taking your laptop to and getting some work done, a place for a quick break, or as somewhere to meet your friends for a catch up. They have a great seating area, with the additional option to sit outside. This coffee shop has a nice chilled out vibe and the staff are so friendly. The coffee and teas range from £2.00-£3.70, with a 40p extra charge for milk alternatives.
7 Burdett Rd, Mile End, London E3 4TU
© Sofi Natt
Another wonder that can be found in the Mile End area is The Coffee Room – an independent shop with an incredibly easy going atmosphere. The Coffee Room has lots of seating options including in the outside area in front of the shop, inside, and their lovely garden in the back. The Coffee Room is a great place to meet friends and socialise, or to go solo, to enjoy your own company or be productive with your work. The Coffee Room has a wide variety on their menu, from coffee/tea, soft drink and alcohols. They also offer many filling dishes, including fresh baked goods. The coffee is priced at £1.80-£2.95, with an extra charge of 50p for milk alternatives. They also offer other extras such as whipped cream, syrups and an extra shot of coffee – all at a small additional charge, from 30p – 50p.
6A Grove Rd, Mile End, London E3 5AX
© Sofi Natt
Kaffeine is an incredibly popular place to stop off for a coffee, and it’s clear why! Even peeking in from the outside, it seems so inviting and friendly. The quality is amazing, and the staff are so lovely and welcoming. It can get quite busy, so I recommend avoiding the lunch time rush. If you want to meet some friends and play it safe, knowing where you go will have high quality drinks, a warm atmosphere and an overall great experience, Kaffeine comes highly recommended. As an added bonus, their prices are good for an outing on a budget! The coffees are priced between £1.90-£2.80, with a 50p extra charge for a milk alternative!
66 Great Titchfield Street
15 Eastcastle Street
© KaffeineLondon
Sticking to a budget doesn’t have to mean missing out on socialising with friends, and treating yourself! There’s so many places out there that offer high quality drinks, and a welcoming space to have fun! I hope this list has given you a few ideas of places to visit, without spending lots of money.
Starting your own kitchen garden.
Now that spring has well and truly sprung, it’s a great time to start working on your very own kitchen garden. Starting a kitchen garden can seem quite daunting, and overwhelming but there’s a lot of options for beginners, and there’s really nothing quite like reaping the rewards if your own hard work and patience.
You can grow most veg in containers, so all you will need is;
- A sunny space
Whether it’s a windowsill, a balcony or a patio.
2. A seed tray, propagator or mini greenhouse
These can be purchased from your local garden centres, big chain stores such as B&Q, or through a quick search online.
3. Seeds
Again, from garden centres, online, supermarkets etc.
4. Seed compost
You can get your hands on this in supermarkets, garden centres or online.
All you really need to do, is sow the seeds according to the packet instructions, set them in a warm, sunny space, water gently and watch them start to grow. Although we are in spring, the weather is still fairly unpredictable, so I recommend starting your seeds off indoors, and if you do have that balcony, or patio space – move them outdoors once they’ve started to grow, and the weather is a bit warmer.
There are a few seed recommendations that I have for beginners to give a go;
- Cress
Cress is one of the easiest things you can grow by yourself, and takes little maintenance. Simply sow the seeds on the surface of damp seed compost, this can be done in a small pot, on your windowsill. Germination is quick quick for cress, and you may even see shoots within the first 24 hours. Cress is great for sandwiches and salads.
2. Pea shoots
Much like cress, pea shoots are fairly easy to grow at home. I’d recommend soaking the seeds for 24 hours before sowing them, and you should cover them with 1cm of compost. Place them on a windowsill that catches the sun, and they’ll soon start to sprout. Pea shoots are a great addition to sandwiches and even in a stir fry.
3. Herbs
Herbs are great for growing on a windowsill, and also require minimal caring for – great for beginners and experts alike! Basil, mint and parsley are each effortless to grow. Simply sow on top of compost, and cover with a further 0.5cm. Herbs are great for a huge variety of dishes, and growing them yourself ensures thy’ll be packed with more vitamins, than those purchased in stores.
4. Strawberries
Strawberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow at home, as they are happy in pots located on a patio or balcony, or even in hanging baskets. Strawberries can be bought as either seeds, to grow by yourself or as ‘runners’, which are ready grown. When growing strawberries in pots, they should be spaced about 25-30cm apart from each other, this ensures easy care, when watering and feeding. If you are sowing your own seeds, I recommend starting them off indoors. Strawberries are great alone, in smoothies, oats, or even drinks for that fruity summer kick!
5. Edible flowers
Calendula, or more commonly known as Marigolds are simple to grow indoors. They should be planted 5cm apart and covered with about 2cm of soil. These edible flowers will add a bright yellowness to your kitchen. They can be used for tea, cake, bread or as a garnish for salads.
Having your own kitchen garden and growing wonders for your cooking can be a great way to help reduce wastefulness! By tending to fruits, veg or herbs yourself, you’re less likely to have food at the back of the fridge, forgotten about. You can pick from your kitchen garden as and when you need, which saves you money, and help save the planet. So why not give it a try this year? Combat food wastage, and learn a new skill.
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