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Eco friendly parties in a box for hire and party inspiration
(5)

22/06/2023

I love it when customers send me pictures of the party kits in action!

I do struggle with trying to keep all the balls in the air as, unfortunately, Sunshine & Smiles is not my full time job and social media content definitely falls to the bottom of my to do list on a regular basis.

But getting photos like this, hearing how much customers love the kits and of course knowing we're doing our bit to reduce party waste thereby helping the planet make it all worth it!

Have a fab day lovelies xx

11/06/2023

What a fabulous day at the Northgate Summer Fayre! Feet are sore and I probably got a little bit too much sun so definitely time to put my feet up! I was on the stall all day but hubby brought me delicious lunch from and a nice cold beer from the so all was good

I still have some stock from the summer fayre so if you'd like to get your hands on the fabulous books from or , snack bags, food pouches or ice pop bags from , plastic free crafts from or some lovely bits from .uk then let me know!

09/06/2023

So excited (and nervous!) for my first ever stall tomorrow at the Northgate Summer Fayre.

I'll have one of the party kits, some decorations and some of the vintage crockery on display so you can see what the party kits are all about.

I'm also going to have the amazing products shown above from some of my fav small businesses for sale - .uk

Hope to see some of you there, please do come and say hi. For those of you local to me but unable to make the fayre, if there is anything you'd like drop me a message or comment below and we can sort out getting them to you over the weekend.

05/05/2023

Did you see the news last week? Scientists predict we could reach 1.5 degrees of global warming this year. This was the limit given for a liveable planet. We all need to be talking about it. If enough people do, we will reach the 25% social tipping point, which will trigger a cascade of positive change. You don’t have to be an expert in climate science, or lead the perfect ‘eco’ life to care about this (I certainly don't). Just telling your audience (Insta audience, your family, mums at the school gate, person who serves you coffee, anyone!) that you’re worried too will make a big difference.

Here are some fab accounts which have amazing resources and information. .rebellion.families

If you could, like, share or even copy and paste to your own feed / stories would be amazing.

01/05/2023

Our action does make a difference!

01/05/2023

It's pretty much No Mow May every month here!!

But if its new to you - free the wildflowers in your lawn so they can grow wild and provide a feast for pollinators, tackle pollution, and lock away atmospheric carbon below ground. All by not doing something, it's definitely a win win situation.

Aside from the obvious nature benefits above, it also means cleaning my oven shelves all year round is super easy. Leave them overnight (or a few nights the first time you try it) and some kind of magic happens with the dew and all the grease and grime wipes off. I was a bit sceptical when I read it in .birtwhistle book but it really does work! I've got to do the next one, so will do a before and after.

Will you be joining the movement? Or using the power of nature to clean your oven shelves?
loveplants

22/04/2023

Happy Earth Day 🌍

What are you going to do today help our beautiful earth?

I can't make it to The Big One unfortunately but I'm hoping to be able to rally enough to take the boys on a litter picking walk this afternoon.

While they're at football this morning I'll be emailing my MP and other government departments asking them to support the two demands of The Big One. Could you do the same?

More info can be found here:
https://digitalrebellion.uk/mps-tbo
https://digitalrebellion.uk/pickets

Let me know below if you do it!

21/04/2023

This is heartbreaking to read but sometimes we need a harsh reality to help us focus on what we can do to make a difference.

The 25% tipping point is really important. We need more of us to talk openly about our fears and concerns about the climate crisis and also share ways in which we can help to do our bit to bring about change.

Posted • 📢 WHY DO WE NEED CLIMATE ACTION???

With every fraction of a degree that our planet warms, there will be huge consequences for everyone. Take a look at what the future could look like for children worldwide if governments continue to ignore the climate science ➡️➡️➡️

It looks pretty bleak doesn't it?

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Another future is possible! A future where all children will thrive and the natural world will regenerate 🌱

‼️ To ensure a liveable planet for our children, we must come TOGETHER and demand IMMEDIATE meaningful government action.

⚡️According to social tipping points research, it takes just 25% of a society to spark meaningful government action.

We CAN do this.
We MUST.

Every fraction of a degree matters. Every fraction saves lives.

📣 JOIN THE CLIMATE MOVEMENT

🤝 join a climate activist group like or

✍️ write to your local MP

☮️ attend a climate protest like 'The Big One' this weekend!

🗣 TALK about it. We need to normalise talking about the climate crisis to make it more mainstream.

💪We must save all we can! We must fight for every fraction of a degree to ensure a livable planet 🌍🌎🌎

Illustration by

Sources: IPCC Special Report on 1.5c; Climate Action Tracker Nov 22 Update; IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report; Carbon Brief 2016; UN Climate Change

16/04/2023

So I've stolen the idea for this post from the lovely .1 who in turn stole it from

I'm am definitely not the perfect environmentalist (or perfect anything else for that matter) but that doesn't stop me doing what I can to have a positive impact on the climate crisis (more on that later this week)

Also stealing Katie's words here (hope that's OK Katie!)

The planet doesn't need a few of us doing this perfectly, it needs every single one of us trying and failing and trying below.

Would love it if you'd share your eco confessions below xx

21/03/2023

Of course Sunday was Mother's Day, here in the UK at least, and my first Mother's Day at home with my mum in years.

So pleased I could sneak the crockery in the back of the car and treat mum to a lovely afternoon tea.

And of course now I'll be looking for excuses to do afternoon tea as it all looks so pretty!

20/03/2023

What a weekend!!!

We headed to Cornwall for a whirlwind weekend - first up, my step mums 70th birthday celebrations. A lovely family meal at The Old Shire, I loved decorating the place with a Japanese Cherry Blossom theme, so so pretty.

And a bonus for you - will now be a decor theme available for hire 🙂

Watch out for the Mother's Day post later, crockery travelled well!

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend xx

16/03/2023

You can book in your Mother's Day afternoon hire up until lunchtime tomorrow with collection by 4pm.

Includes cups, saucers, side plates, cake stand, cake plate, tea pot(s), milk jug, sugar dish, cream dish, jam dish, cake slice and small forks

Tea for 2 - £10
Tea for 4 - £14
Each additional place setting - £4
Decor package - £8

28/02/2023

I've expanded!

Afternoon tea is one of my favourite things so when I got the opportunity to add vintage crockery afternoon tea kits to my collection I couldn't resist!

I have three kits for 4 people each. So you can hire one or all three if you want. Or if you just want tea for two thats fine as well.

The kits will come with everything you need to set up a perfect afternoon tea at home.

I can also make up a more child friendly version to go with it if your little ones want to join in.

Perfect for Mothers Day birthdays, Easter or just because.

There are also a couple of themed afternoon tea kits - Mad Hatters Tea Party and Beauty and the Beast inspired tea party.

And of course you can add any of my decor kits and I'm going to put together a special Easter one just for the vintage crockery hire.

What do you think of me new collection?

23/02/2023

My knackered knee means I'll be walking rather than running but I'll be there in Harlow on 7th May tutu and all!

1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. I've had to have a few lumps and bumps removed over the years but i've been one of the lucky ones as everything was benign.

I know money is stretched right now but if you could spare a few pennies to sponsor me that would be fab. Link in my bio

Sharing my giving page also massively appreciated, and if you'd like to join me on the 5k that would be amazing!

Massive thank you ###
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/rachels-race-for-life-20220507

19/02/2023

Today's work in progress. I'm in charge of decorations for my stepmums 70th birthday lunch next month. We've gone with a cherry blossom theme as on her actually birthday they're flying off to Japan for a lovely holiday.

This also counts as self care for me as I'm locked away in the conservatory with no one asking me for anything!

What are you up to today?

17/02/2023

Hi lovelies, each year the school PTA host a Father's Day shop, where the students can purchase a gift for £3. An easy way to make a little bit of money for the PTA and the kids really love going shopping 🙂

This year, I have the task of sourcing gifts. As we only charge £3 per gift we can't really spend more than £1.50 - £2 to purchase gifts.

There are obviously loads of wholesale sites I could use but we're trying to support small business wherever we can, bonus points if they're also sustainable/eco friendly.

So if you have any suggestions, ideally local to Bishop's Stortford but that is must, please comment below.

Thank you!

16/02/2023

I'm very excited to be a for the amazing Grace & May Home

Here are just a few of my favourites.

Nemi Green Tea - I'm trying to cut back on the caffeine as it's not great for my anxiety and this lovely green tea definitely makes it a bit easier

Highlighter pencils and Cork pen - I brought the highlighter pencils so I could test them out before suggesting them as an alternative to my day job firm, they're great! This cork pen is the comfiest pen I've ever written with and when it runs out I can just replace the ink bit (which has a proper name which had escaped me for now)

The Solid Bar Company Awesome Lemongrass Repellent - saved us from many a mosquito when we were in Jamaica and smells gorgeous, no chemical nasties

The Natural Spa Coffee Scrub and x10 Treatments Ancient Wisdom Earth Clay Mask - perfect for those self care moments without actually going to a spa

The lovely ladies at Grace & May Home have given me a discount code to share with you. SUNSHINEANDSMILES will get you 10% off your order 🙂

12/02/2023

Back to designing!! Before Sunshine & Smiles was Palm Tree Printables. Living on a small island meant I couldn't always get exactly what I wanted, so I took a course with the lovely so I could design my own printables.

It fell alway when we moved back to the UK but now I'm back at. Available as digital downloads so you can send invites via email or WhatsApp or print if your kids are really keen to hand them out 🙂

Also working on welcome signs, thank you tags and bunting. Welcome signs and bunting will be ad to my kits over time. But if your not close enough to hire you'll be able to print your own and then pass on to the next person or donate to you local party kit (find yours over at )

Current themes I'm working on are circus, cowgirls, dinosaurs, unicorns, rainbows, tropical/flamingo, army camo and footballs.

What themes would you like to see?? Let me know below

02/02/2023

The chaotic home of Sunshine & Smiles! This crazy desk takes up a corner of the conservatory which is dominated by the big desk for my day job.

It's a little corner of chaotic creativeness! Currently covered in a box of amazing craft supplies from (donut garland/bunting in progress), a box of my favourite bits from (I've recently become a brand ambassador which I'm very excited about, more on that later/tomorrow) and a freebie which I picked up today that might give you a hint to some new party kits which will be revealed next week.....

Please tell me I'm not the only one with such a hectic work space!

02/02/2023

I've got a couple of 💚 projects on the go which I'll be sharing this week, one of which will be making its way to my local MP.

have lots of fab free resources you can use. Would love to hear if any of you will be joining in with this month.

Posted • Get ready for green hearts everywhere in February! People across the UK are coming together to show leaders that we want to see real and rapid action to tackle the climate, nature and cost of living crises - for the love of our families, homes, livelihoods and planet. theclimatecoalition.org/show-the-love 💚

27/01/2023

Happy New Year lovelies - I know I'm late but after the chaos of Christmas, back to school and back to work, all my new year plans and big ideas always get pushed to end of January/February to ease the pressure.

I've struggled with self doubt since becoming a mum really (fairly certain I'm not the only one....) and Sunshine & Smiles has certainly suffered because of my self doubt, I'm always thinking things like oh nobody is going to be interested in what your offering for hire or that fab eco swap you've found so there's no point sharing it etc.

So this morning, while sitting on the train heading in to London for a day in the day job office, I decided to re-read my Facebook reviews. There's not many, but they've helped restore my faith in me a bit and remind me that people are interested. So I'm going to be sharing all kinds of eco / sustainable / crafty / whatever makes me happy stuff, all things which can make any day an event because life is too short to only celebrate (and decorate) for the big events.

I might even build up the courage to go live!

Have a fabulous Friday lovelies

31/10/2022

I'm always asking people to send me photos of the party kits in action but am rubbish at taking photos when I use them myself!

These are the few I get yesterday. Basic kit, serveware kit and camo decor kit with ammo box add on in action.

30/10/2022

The Nerf Battle 7th Birthday Party was a big sucess. Massive thank you to everyone for coming and huge thank you to Tanya from for a fab Nerf Battle and Jade and the team at , fabulous venue as always and I know I said it was the last one but I get a feeling we might be back next year!

30/10/2022

The day has come, it's Nerf Battle Birthday Party day and we are party ready!! Three boxes with everything needed for a fab party, well appart from the food and drinks obviously!

Box 1 - plates, cups, jugs and serveware
Box 2 - camouflage and Nerf table coverings and decorations
Crate - all the bits and pieces you might need - blue tac, string, scissors, matches, candles, cocktail sticks, kitchen roll, bin bags, tea towels and of course candles

Now to make a mountain of sandwiches and have a cuppa while lunch is doing its thing in the slow cooker. Then round up the troops (possibly in full camo gear) and head of to set up the party this afternoon.

27/10/2022

It's full party mode here. My youngest is 7 on Monday so on Sunday he's having his last big birthday party - more on that later/tomorrow.

It's going to be exhausting so I'm all set to collapse on the sofa once the boys are in bed with a glass of fizz, this fabulous sounding kaolin clay mask and jasmine incense burner from the lovelies at Grace & May Home]

As much as I'm excited for the party I think I'm more excited for the facemask afterwards!

If you want to give it a try you can get 10% off on the Grace & May Home] website with the code SUNSHINEANDSMILES

18/10/2022

I wish you could smell this!!! This is a must for the coffee lovers amongst you. This is my absolute favourite body scrub and I get it from the amazing Grace & May Home (along with lots of other goodies I'll be sharing throughout the week).

I've been leaning towards making all the usual day to day stuff more of an event while still trying to be eco friendly and sustainable and a coffee scrub first thing in the morning is definitely a good start!

05/08/2022

Woo hoo!!

Thank you to everyone who has hired from me over the last 12 months!

Only my cups and plates count for the audit so the figure above doesn't include all the single use serve ware and decorations also save from landfill.

A massive thank you from me and the planet for your support.

22/07/2022

Happu birthday to me 🎂🥂🍾

Boys broke up from school yesterday so we're off to the park for a picnic with friends later. I'll no doubt be embarrassing walking down the road with my pink hair and now traditional birthday tutu 🤣

And yep, I decorate for my own birthday too!

I absolutely love birthdays, even my own, getting old is a blessing in my book.

The same amazing flamingo bunting from comes out every year. Along with the wall pieces I made out of some foam board and an deflated helium balloons

The flamingos are cake toppers from an amazing cake made for me a couple of years ago.

And as for the presents, I choose them myself as I knew what I wanted but still wanted them wrapped - some fat quarters and ribbon from my large collection did just the trick and already back in the box for the next birthday.

Have a fabulous day lovelies whatever your up to xx

10/07/2022

I always work better with a deadline and some accountability! So I've got until May 2023 to sort my knackered knee out and raise as much money for

I'll share the like to my fundraising page once it's sorted but I would also love some company so if you fancy joining me in Harlow Town Park on 7 May 2023 for a 5km sort of run sort of walk let me know!

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Take a closer look at one of the fabulous books in the Wild Tribe Heroes Books. I think you'll agree they're absolutely amazing. If your based in Bishop's Stortford and would love to help get these books in to our local primary schools please comment below 🙂 Posted @withregram • @wildtribeheroes 👀Take a look inside my true children’s book on climate change - Hunter’s Icy Adventure! ❄️🐻‍❄️ 🧊Learn about the problem of melting ice and the dangers for our fragile Arctic ecosystems. 📚Great for primary aged children - a positive, true story with a happy ending and ideas for the future. Perfect for story time or schools, all books have excellent free teaching resources. 🐻‍❄️Hunter’s Icy Adventure helps you open important conversations with your child and puts the issues into context for them. Order your signed and dedicated copy from my website - link in the bio ❄️🐻‍❄️💚🌎 #wildtribeheroes #climatechangebooksforkids #climatechange #arctic #polarbear #savethearctic #savethepolarbears #ecosystem #meltingice #polar #childrensbooks #booktrailer #bookpromo #sneakpeek #lookinside #bookstagram #booklover #storytime #kids #primaryschool #primaryschoolteacher #primaryschoolbookclub

Yay!! Parties with friends and family will soon be something we can actually have 🎉🎈🎊 Want to hire fab reusuable party ware and decorations and skip the single use plastic and paper for your next party? Give me a shout, I'd love to help