Bamboo Toothbrushes

Hey Deer Ones,

It's been a while, I know. Blogging and shopping (aside from groceries) is not really a big part of my life anymore as I've regrettably had to move into adult life but I still kind of miss it and want to start making posts again. As time has passed my interests have evolved, I have put a higher value on sustainable practices and purchasing choices and I want my posts to reflect that. So here we go...

Australia uses 30 million toothbrushes a year. These are hard plastic, non-recyclable items that end up in landfill where it will remain for a long time. Switching to a sustainable bamboo brush is a very simple and affordable way we can reduce the impact this has.

I am currently looking into different brands to pick my own. If anyone has any advice or recommendations please share. For now I want to sure some of the information I’ve found out about them for anyone wanting to make the switch:

Charcoal Bamboo Toothbrush - $4.50 from Biome

† Be careful of believing that these brushes are 100% biodegradable. Many use synthetic bristles (such as nylon), which is not biodegradable. These must be removed and disposed of before composting/burying the handle.

† Synthetic bristles can contain BPA or other harmful chemicals (same as in plastic brushes) so keep that in mind. Some brands advertise they are BPA free.

† As far as I’m aware no brand has found a solution for a safe to use bristle that is 100% biodegradable outside using animal hair bristles (not really a solution for any vegans out there and doesn’t sound too appealing to me either)

Bamboo Toothbrush (Pack of 12) - $38 from The Environmental Toothbrush

† Look into where the bamboo is sourced so you can make the informed decision. Some use plantation bamboo which may involve land clearing which is not a sustainable practice.

† MOSO bamboo is FSC certified and seems to be the most recommended brand for sustainable bamboo products (the pandas will thank you).

Bamboo Toothbrush - $6.95 from Bondi to Byron

† Most recommend that you change toothbrush every month, though they do last much longer than that and are still safe to use.

† Price range seems to be on par with advertised or branded toothbrushes. You can also generally buy in bulk so you will have a year or more supply.

Thats about all I’ve found out so far, if there is anything people feel I should add let me know~

Polyvore Whore

Hello Deerlings,

I have recently jumped on the Polyvore bandwagon. I don't know why I haven't earlier! It is so much fun, I'm pretty addicted right now. It's so great for styling and creating coordinates. At the moment I've been sharing the outfits to Tumblr as coordinates of some of the products I post. I'm trying to stick to products that are relatively affordable (affordability is subjective mind you). At least on the individual item level they should be affordable. I try to keep this in mind particularly for the outfits I share on Tumblr, so people can recreate these outfits if they wish.

There are...some things there that are super duper expensive that I couldn't resist though.

I think it will also be great for creating outfits for characters if you are an artist. I'd love to be able to completely plan and have total freedom to dress my characters in whatever I want, no matter the expense haha. However I haven't done much drawing in a long time so that idea will have to be saved for future projects.

Overall though I just want to have fun with it.
Follow my Polyvore HERE if you are interested.

I'm just going to post my first 5, I've only done 9, and I will maybe do another post once I have reached 10. So here we go~

Black Kitty - This was my very first set on Polyvore. I didn't know what I was doing. It isn't terrible but it is definitely my least favourite. I kept it simple, a nu grunge style as that is generally the look I go for personally.

Uh Excuse Me? - Another nu grunge style. This was only my second outfit and I quite genuinely love this one. Possibly my favourite out of them all. Those UNIF boots are also on my wish list when I have some cash to spare. It's a shame that shirt was sold out otherwise I probably would have bought it. Who doesn't love Daria?

Sweet Space Candy - This was my first experiment with colour. Going for a pastel/kawaii grunge with a space and sweets theme. I think this look would be super adorable. Pastel pink and white, you can't go wrong.

Moon Bathing - A minimal nu goth swimming set. I adore this bikini from Disturbia and the towel matches so well. I added a cat skeleton candle so all the moon children can swim under the by candle light.

Halloweenie - In the spirit of October/Halloween I decided to make a creepy cute/pastel goth outfit. I love Hello Cavities. I feel like their sweaters are a must have for anyone into pastel goth or creepy cute styles. So much fun to style!

I'm also trying to avoid using items that are knock offs from small businesses, posting from stores that I know are unethical in their business practices, products that use stolen art or things like real fur because of fur farms. That sort of stuff. I also try to link pictures straight from the website or only use pictures that are sourced correctly. If you follow me on Tumblr and now Polyvore and you notice I am posting from a dodgy online store, or you think I shouldn't be advertising a product, please let me know and let me know the reasons so I can fix it. I try to keep up to date on these things but I don't always catch it.

That's all for now.
Thanks for reading ♥

Sandy's Shop

Hello my lovelies!

Today I am bringing you another review from my sponsor Sandysshop!

Sandysshop is the go to place for tights and leggings. They also sell various styles of clothes. From simple to cute to spooky, all at reasonable prices, you are bound to find some thing you like ❤

You can use the code CULTFAWN for 10% off your order!

My order:

☽ Lace Bow Side Knee High Socks - $8

☽ Luna Cat Sailor Moon Tights - $9.90

☽ Harajuku Doll Joint Tights - $9.90

My order also contained a little piece of candy attached to the business card. Yummy!

Shipping:

The package was sent on the 17th of October and arrived after exactly 6 business days later on the 27th. That's super fast. It was sealed in a yellow paper envelop. The products were wrapped individually for protection and there was no damage in transit. Sandyshop's shipping service did not disappoint!

Lace Bow Side Knee High Socks - Super cute, light and stretchy. They are a light grey, with a cute heart pattern and sit nicely at my knees. They feel perfectly secure, nothing worse than knee highs with loose elastic. The lace can be folded down or sit over your knee. It is attached to the sock with good stitching that doesn't restrict the stretch of the sock itself. The bow is a similar lace with a loose shape and it is fastened to the sock. They are really comfortable. They are not as thick as they look which means I will still be able to wear them in the warmer weather.

Luna Cat Sailor Moon Tights - These are faux thigh high tights with kitty theme. Not just any kitty though, it's Luna from Sailor Moon! The top of the tights, the gusset, are sheer, then starting at the mid thigh they are black to give the look of wearing thigh highs rather than tights. Luna's face decorates the front of your thigh while there is a tail at the back. I am a Sailor Moon nut and if you are too you are going to love them too. However, I would not recommend them for someone who is taller than me. I am around 5'8 (173cm) and these tights are recommended for a height of 165cm max. I really wanted them regardless and thought it was worth risking it. They fit perfectly fine but I would not recommend them for anyone taller than me.

Harajuku Doll Joint Tights - I've seen a lot of images of people wearing ball jointed doll (bjd) tights floating around the internet and knew I wanted a pair. I was delighted to find Sandysshop was selling them. They are white tights, thick and sturdy material. The print makes your legs look like it has hinges at your joints and give the spooky look of doll limbs. The joints sit at your ankles, knees and right up to the top of your thigh. They do take a bit of adjusting to make sure the joints sit in the right places and the print doesn't look too stretched, only when you first put them on, so be prepared for that but it really is no fuss to do. They have a gusset with a set back and front side so you know which way they sit and they have a little extra stretch for your tush. They are comfortable and look wicked when you wear them, great to add a bit of spooky to your casual or to add some oomph to a costume. Again I would advise anyone taller than me to be wary of the size, these are also 165cm max.

Overall:

A really great order. I love every piece. They are comfortable, good quality and I know I will get lots of use out of them. Sandysshop is well organised, goods are presented with all the size information and they ship as quick as possible. Sandy always provides a great service. She is easy to talk to over email, she replies very quickly so you don't have to wait long to hear back from her. Don't hesitate to send her any queries you have about her products and her store.

A big thank you for reading and to Sandysshop for giving me another opportunity to review their awesome store!

You can use the code CULTFAWN for 10% off you order at Sandysshop

❤

Fallen Princess Review

Buy it HERE

Fallen Princess Store is run by two young ladies in Sydney Australia that started up their business this year. Steph & Jasmine contacted me and generously offered me one of their products for a little review of their store.

Shipping:

After making my request Fallen Princess was pretty fast to making and posting it off. The item arrived over night for me once it was posted too as I also live in Sydney. It arrived to me in a paper letter envelope, the envelope was unopened. The parcel was small and discreet.

Item/Quality/Size:

My favourite item in their store is the lavender fallen cherub garter and this is the item I chose to review. Fallen Princess will also customise your item a little by letting you choose the colour of the satin flowers. I chose the lavender flowers. Inside the envelope the garter was packaged very sweetly in a little pouch with a thank you note. 

The garter is made of black elastic with a satin-like surface. The back of the garter is plain while the front is decorated with 5 flowers and a little cherub charm. It is stitched together well, I can't see it falling apart easily as the stitching is pretty secure and cleanly done and does not affect the stretch of the elastic.

This garter comes in sizes XS to XL with measurements but they also offer custom sizes. I measured my thigh and chose a small for myself. It sits securely around my mid thigh. So far it has not fallen down while wearing it, though I feel like it could be a little tighter.

Overall:

The garter is a nice simple accessory. They are well made and affordable. Steph and Jasmine are super easy to talk to and flexible when it comes to their designs. I really like this little piece, I am so happy with it. I can't wait to wear it more and I think it will add a sweet but cheeky touch to plenty of my outfits.

A big thank you to Fallen Princess for their generosity and thank you for reading lovelies!

Creepers Review

In my little home town we have an annual rockabilly festival called Lady Luck. It's a great day of kitsch stalls, sexy vintage cars, sick tatts and of course swing cats. This post has been a little delayed, the festival was actually in January but I finally got the time to write about it.

Every year I go around checking out stalls, taking photos of people, cars and buying little bibs and bobs I come across that I can't resist. This year I found a gem of a stall.

Baby Creatures.

This business makes rock n roll adorable. Selling things like tees and bandanas with skulls and tatt designs printed on them. How are they adorable? Well they are for little bubby greasers rather than adults.

Now you might be wondering why this store would catch my eye? I don't have a baby, I don't really know any babies, especially babies that are cool cats. Not only did they have baby things on they were also selling T.U.K creepers. Specifically Mondo Lo Sole Brothel Creepers, with leopard print and studs.

I've been hanging out for a good pair of creepers for a long time. T.U.K is one of the brands to look for, so just how good are they?

Price: $90 AUD
At the time this pair could be bought for around $86 USD, once converted to AUD it was over $90 AUD, and that's not including about $20+ shipping. So this price was amazing! I was so happy. They are great quality shoes, $90 is quite a bit of money for someone on my current income but well worth it.

Item/Quality:
Amazing! They take a little getting used to I will admit, not so much because they are a platform but because they are a lower cut shoe than what I am used to. Also the suede is quite firm at first so I found it dug in under my ankle a little. Though they have softened now so I wear them a lot. I walk pretty much everywhere and these haven't given me any pains, even when I have been walking for kilometres in the city. They are really comfortable, perhaps not the best for support but, again, they have not given me any trouble. None of the studs have fallen off either, which worried me a little but they seem to be fastened on well.

Service:
The man who was running the baby creatures stall was very friendly and personable. He helped me try them on, we had a chat and even held them for me while I went to the bank.

Overall:
Love these babies to bits. They are really versatile in style too, I can coordinate them with heaps of styles. They are pretty much my go to shoes right now. Very comfortable and if you can get your hands on a pair I would definitely recommend them.

As for buying these yourselves you may have to do some hunting. I'm sure if you are in Australia and wish to buy a pair you might be able to grab some from baby creatures if you contact them on their facebook or through their website.

Thanks for reading ♥

☽ KILLSTAR Crop Top Review ☾

☯ Ouija Crop Top - £24.99

☯ Third Eye Crop Top - £24.99

Shipping: Free, special promo.

My order was posted 2 days after I paid for it. It arrived in 6 days which is super fast. I have bought from KillStar in the past and paid for shipping so I know it is pretty reasonable for a fast reliable service.

Item/Quality/Price:

I got a small in both and they fit me great. I paid £24.99 each, a little over $40 AUD each. I think that's great for designer shirts, the fabric is also great quality. It's pure cotton, it breathes so it's great for hot weather and is cut as a crop to expose your tummy. The designs are awesome, I can't pick which is my favourite which is why I decided to get both. The print stretches, so it shouldn't crack. I can't wait to wear these more.

Extras:

This time it came with what I think are stickers for the tag. The KillStar logo, the inverted cross, looks to be a sticker. If not I'm a label hoarder, I love using them for scrap booking. The detail of the designs is great once again, right down to the labels.

Overall:

Love these crops to death. Super excited to have them. Once again, KillStar has provided a great service. Really pleased with everything. I recommend them and hope you check them out.

❤

♡ Black Milk Adventure Time Swimsuit Review ♡

  BlackMilk Adventure Time Wolfpack Swimsuit Review

• $100 - Buy here~

Shipping: Free, express post (in Australia)

It arrived in its usual shiny black envelope. This order took a bit longer to process than normal, it took about 5 days after I paid for it to be sent but arrived with in 2 working days of being posted.

Item/Quality/Price:

I got rid of my old bikinis for this series from BlackMilk. Picking a favourite design was so hard but I went for this one because I figured it would look great as a body suit too. It is a light, stretchy material. When stretched it doesn't go see through. I have been swimming in a pool and a lake so far wearing it and it is a great swimming suit. It looks awesome, has a lovely cut so I don't have to worry about popping out or getting a wedgie when I dive into the water haha.

It was expensive, the most I have ever paid on swimmers. But I knew it was going to be and I really wanted it so I was willing to pay for it.

Overall:

A great, flattering swimsuit. It is pricey, shipping was slower than normal but still arrived in about 7 working days after being paid for. I have never been disappointed with the service or quality from BlackMilk.

♡

☆ Pastel Morgue Storenvy Suspender Skirt Review ☆

☆ Pastel Morgue Storenvy Suspender Skirt Review ☆

• Buy here..$16.99

Shipping: Free!

It was sent 3 days after I paid for it. Once it was posted Thala, from Pastel Morgue, sent me a email with information about my order and with helpful tips of what to do if anything went wrong. It was polite, straightforward and I felt like if there was an issue she would have been easy to talk to. It arrived in a thick plastic envelope about 14 days after it was marked as posted. The garment was in it's own plastic and was undamaged in transit. That's a good shipping service in my opinion.

Item/Quality:

The garment can be worn as just a high waisted skirt or with the suspenders attached. They fasten on with buttons and have two button holes so the straps can be adjusted to two different lengths. There were a few extra threads on my item but they were clipped off easily. The material is a nice cotton blend, and not to heavy. On my shape the skirt is quite short. I have to wear shorts or a petticoat underneath it so you can't see my bum. I'm looking for a good petticoat and will recommend one when I buy it. I really love this skirt, its so cute and looks great with a printed tee and printed tights.

Overall:

This was a great bargain for this skirt, it looks adorable and I love it even if it is a little short on me. This was a really smooth easy process with the seller and I would not hesitate to buy from her again ^.^

†††

❤ Sandysshop Sponsored Review ❤

† Sandysshop Sponsored Review †

• Silver Stud Knee Socks - $9.90
• Pink Stripe Mock Thigh High Tights - $8
• Gothic Rose Side Corset Fishnet Tights - $8.99
• Pastel Goth Kawaii Unicorn Icecream Tights - $8.90

Use the code CULTFAWN for 10% off your order ❤

Shipping:

They arrived 10 days after they were posted which was great! Packed nice and neatly in a thick yellow envelope. They were in their own individual plastic and undamaged when I opened them.

Price/Item Quality:

The studded socks, I was a little worried about the studs and the elastic. I thought the studs may be glued on and they would peel off in the wash. Nope, they are stitched on with elastic. Awesome! If they were to somehow come off I can just stitch them on again. So that was good. The elastic, I was worried would stretch after one wear or fall down easily. I have worn the a couple of times and not had to pull them up once! They are really comfy and look great. I have paid more for just plain thigh highs so I think they are really good for their price!

The first thing I noticed about the pink stripe mock sock tights is they are quite long. So these are great for taller people. Super comfy, good sturdy material, I don't feel like I have to worry about ladders or holes forming. They look fantastic, worth every penny and I can't wait to wear them more as the weather gets cooler.

The gothic rose corset tights you do have to be a little careful with when you are putting them on. Because of the corseted sides and the netted fabric means it can be a bit fiddly to get on and you need to be careful to not tear or catch on the fabric. Other than they are gorgeous! Well made and look great under a pair of shorts.

I fell in love with the unicorn ice cream tights as soon as I saw them! Super cute design. They fit really well and are made of a thick, strong nylon. They seem like they will last a long time and the print doesn't crack or split when stretched. They are great quality and an awesome design, the price is very decent for what you get!

Communication:

Sandy, the owner of the store, is so nice. Very polite and easy to talk to, even with english not being her first language. She really is a delight to work with and she has a wonderful store :3

Overall:

Sandysshop is a great little store. The owner is a honey, a pleasure to work with. All her tights are well priced and great quality and she is always getting new and unique styles in, a lot of them I have never seen in other stores! I'd highly recommend checking out her store if you are looking for a neato pair of tights~

❤ Use the code CULTFAWN for 10% off your order ❤