LAGOM - April 2024
Glazed and baked tofu, PM facial routine + Fashion Revolution reading and ginger slice
Hello, hello!
That was closed this month; we made it just one day later! Issue 38 is all about grounding practices as the cold weather settles in some parts of the southern hemisphere. We have a new tofu recipe, glazed and baked in the oven. The write-up also includes meal prep ideas. We curated an evening facial routine using our favourite products that have been reviewed in the last few years. Reflecting on Fashion Revolution Week, we look back to why this movement is essential for the fashion industry. And finally, for self-pleasure or good company, we bring back Megan May’s ginger slice recipe, packed with high-health ingredients that will support your system through these changing temperatures.
Some updates on our respective moves. Trace is settling nicely in Naarm, Melbourne, and her belongings are arriving home today. Expect new favourite rich and mundane (or Shibas) images very soon. After stopping by Singapour to make the most of the air trip (and carbon emissions!), Amandine landed in France to an unexpected cold weather. The plan is to move to Spain in June after catching up with friends and family locally— exciting times for both of us.
For the days when you feel overwhelmed by life and what you can and cannot control, we suggest you go back to “A Pale Blue Dot”, the beautiful words written by astronomer and scientist Carl Sagan in 1994, for some perspective and grounding.
Glazed and baked tofu
We eat tofu regularly, so we enjoy experimenting with this high-protein soybean cured. Last year, Benoit developed its perfect method of tofu baked in the oven, which we are happy to share today. This glazed tofu recipe is an ideal and convenient method to prepare stress-free, delicious, healthy meals.
Clean beauty PM routine
Over the years, we have reviewed a few products from our facial routine sets, and some combinations make the perfect combo to take care of your completion, cruelty-free and fragrance-free. For a winter evening face care 3-step routine, we suggest starting by a deep cleanse using Tata Harper Regenerating Exfoliating. Next, to mitigate skin congestion, blemishes and acne scars while enhancing radiance, practise an at-home facial with the Ordinary Peeling Solution. And finally, to deeply nourish and regenerate your skin, generously lather some Aleph facial serum. Expect bright, even skin tone the next day.
What happened to Fashion Revolution Week?
Something that caught our attention lately is how few people seemed to engage with Fashion Revolution Week this year, which ended on April 24th. Maybe it is also an algorithm issue. And it is a shame, given how much some still spend on fast fashion. The public still needs to be informed and challenged on how they consume. Go over Tracey’s analysis of the Fashion Revolution movement in 2021 for a refresher. We still need a fashion revolution!
With colder weather spreading over Aotearoa and nearby southern hemisphere regions, now is the perfect time to prepare Megan May’s Ginger slice from her first recipe book, The Unbakery: Raw Organic Goodness. As the book is out of print, we give you the opportunity to still enjoy this delicious sweet slice packed with high-health ingredients—luxury food from home.
Amandine's edit
As mentioned in a prior paid-subscriber newsletter, I shamelessly discovered the New Zealand Institute of Architects YouTube channel following the Auckland In-Situ conference only a few months back. I couldn’t attend the conference, but the keynotes were published on the channel, and so I enjoyed the talks for free. This channel is a chance to discover brilliant local and international architects and learn and understand what a quality built environment entails.
Feeling late to the party on this one (also, what does it say about my pretended love for adventures?), but we started using the Alltrails maps when going on a walk in the wilderness. It is a fantastic way to discover all the available paths in your area, either nature or urban landscapes, and never be really lost anywhere.
With all the massive changes that have happened to us lately, I found myself experimenting with my emotions being stuck mid-chest. I wanted to cry sometimes, but it wasn’t getting out. Beyond the major moments in life, there are essential benefits to crying regularly, amongst them releasing pressure and stress. So, to mitigate and get these visible and invisible emotions out, here is a platform that will help you cry.
Trace's edit
Beauty open to all, NOTO recently released (PRACTICE) SAFE SUN // SPF 30, which is, true to the offering, multi-use, acting as a primer and also present in the formulation are Vitamin C, Niacinamides and Ceramides, protect your skin from the elements and improve skin tone at once. A brand I admire for a multitude of reasons: high-performing products with a deep commitment to inclusivity, environmental protection, animal rights and a giveback philosophy, this will be my next SPF.
For two decades, Textile Exchange has been vocal in campaigning for recognition of the devastating environmental damage caused by the fashion industry. Science, technology and business have a big role to play in reducing the industry’s reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels and their recently released repor, ‘The Future of Synthetics’, presents the current issues with cheap synthetic fashion and ways forward to develop innovative approaches to divesting from petrochemical materials (mainly polyester), conserving virgin natural resources and designing for circular manufacturing systems. This report is relevant to anyone who wears clothes. For those interested in the subject, I recommend following Textile Exchange on Instagram, where they share their ambition to make fashion a truly circular industry.
I purchased a new duvet cover and sheets the other day from MAJOR-MINOR, (some colours are on sale), which I am excited about because after years of beige, I will have navy and khaki—ideal for the imminent winter months! MAJOR-MINOR linen is grown, woven, and sewn in Europe. Production and materials information are transparently provided on their website. Worldwide shipping is available.
Thoughts, questions, you can always direct reply to these emails.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Tracey Creed & Amandine Paniagua