If you are lucky enough to be able to celebrate, here are a few gift ideas from Wild & Rust that may help you when looking for the perfect gift this Father’s Day.
]]>Overall, Father's Day is a day to celebrate and appreciate the important role that fathers and father figures play in the lives of their children and families. The role that fathers and father figures play in the lives of their children and families is incredibly important and research has shown that fathers can have a significant impact on their children's development and well-being, both in childhood and throughout their lives.
Here are some ways in which fathers and father figures can have a positive impact on their children and families:
Overall, the role of fathers and father figures in their children's lives is critical for their children's growth and development. By being involved, supportive, and positive role models, fathers can make a significant impact on their children's lives and the well-being of their families.Top of FormBottom of Form
There have been many influential father figures throughout history, but here are some of the most famous and why they are important:
These father figures are considered important because they have inspired people across the globe with their vision, leadership, and moral courage. They have shaped the course of history and continue to be celebrated for their contributions to society.
However, to be an amazing father, you don’t need to achieve miracles, you simply have to be an active and present parent in your child’s life. For those of us lucky enough to have a loving father or father figure in our lives, Father’s day is an opportunity to celebrate them and show them just how much we love them.
There are several meaningful reasons to give your dad a gift this Father's Day. Here are some of them:
Remember, the value of a gift lies not in its price or extravagance but in the thought and sentiment behind it. The most important thing is to choose a gift that is meaningful and reflective of your relationship with your dad. It's the gesture itself that will make Father's Day special and memorable for both of you.
Here are a few gift ideas from Wild & Rust that may help you when looking for the perfect gift this Father’s Day.
For us Father’s Day 2023 is all about wellbeing and we just love the Rugged Nature range of 100% natural products designed to leave Dad’s skin soft moisturised and looking youthful! We highly recommend the Natural Traditional Moisturiser. This perfect all in one moisturiser for the body, hands and face comes in a quirky paint pot. This all natural product is filled to the brim with nourishing ingredients and essential oils that work to hydrate and rejuvenate your skin leaving it feeling smooth and refreshed. On top of that the light scent of Eucalyptus and Rosemary lasts from morning till night.
For the Dad’s who enjoy a good quality 100% natural shave, there is the budget friendly but super nourishing 100% Natural Shave Soap. Shaving should be simple, smooth and satisfying, which is why our shaving soap is hand crafted to create the perfect rich, thick lather, that softens up those hairs, exfoliates your skin and allows the razor to elegantly glide as it slices through stubble. And what could be better than a smooth shave you ask? A guilt free shave! This all-round brilliant shave soap packaging is also 100% plastic free, so you can shop and treat Dad guiltfree!
To make it that little extra special, you can include a Bamboo Handled Shaving brush . This brush is cruelty free and contains no animal hair. However, to achieve this our friends at Rugged Nature had to use synthetic nylon bristles which will give you many wonderful years of use in order to help prevent the inhumane hunting and bullying of badgers. We hope you will agree.
For those looking for something a little different for Dad this year, one of our best sellers last year was our stunning Seaweed & Samphire Candle. Zesty citrus and cooling spearmint notes mingle with a distinctive sea breeze scent anchored on a base of amber, moss and woods. A fresh and invigorating fragrance which makes a perfect candle for the office, study or Dad’s favourite reading nook, whenever he takes time to relax.
On that inspiring note, for those who are lucky enough to be able to celebrate, we wish all our followers, friends and fans a wonderful Father’s Day weekend, no matter how and where you may be celebrating.
Happy Father’s Day 2023!
]]>Fragrances form an important part of our everyday. At Wild & Rust we pride ourselves on being the 'Best smelling store in Henley-on-Thames!' or so our customers tell us and there is good reason. We have carefully curated the finest collection in home fragrances ranging from reed diffusers, to mists, candles, wax melts and burners - we have something for every mood and every budget.
]]>Scent plays an important role in our everyday. It can trigger memories, evoke emotions, and even influence our moods. Home fragrances are an increasingly popular way to enhance our living spaces and create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of fragrance in boosting mood and share some tips for incorporating home fragrances into your daily routine.
The Science of Fragrance
The sense of smell is closely linked to the limbic system, which is responsible for our emotional responses and memory. When we smell something, the olfactory bulb in our nose sends signals directly to the brain, bypassing the thalamus which processes other sensory input such as touch or sound. This direct connection between smell and emotion is what makes fragrance so powerful.
Studies have shown that certain fragrances can have a positive effect on our mood and wellbeing. For example, lavender has been found to have a calming effect and can help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, one of our best selling Lavender products is our organic, vegan Lavender Marjoram Reed Diffuser. Peppermint has been shown to improve cognitive performance and alertness, while citrus scents such as lemon and orange can boost mood and energy levels. It certainly explains why our customers love our Ginger & Mandarin candle so much. It smells of absolute Spring in a jar!
The Benefits of Home Fragrances
Home fragrances can have a number of benefits for our physical and emotional wellbeing. Here are just a few:
How to Incorporate Home Fragrances into Your Daily Routine
There are many ways to incorporate home fragrances into your daily routine. Here are a few tips to get you started:
With so much variety and choice, it can be difficult to choose the perfect fragrance as it can vary depending on personal preferences and cultural trends. However, some fragrances are more commonly used than others due to their pleasant aroma and versatility.
One of the most popular home fragrances is lavender. Lavender has a calming and soothing scent that can help reduce stress and promote relaxation. It is commonly used in aromatherapy and can be found in a variety of products such as candles, essential oils, room sprays, and bath products. Lavender is also a versatile fragrance that can be used in any room of the house, making it a popular choice for many. Our Fruits of Nature Lavender Range has truly captured the beauty of this fragrance so well in this Mini 100g Lavender Candle. We love!
Another very popular collection, which includes Lavender and Frankincense, is our Sleepyhead Range, with it's wonderful calming blend to aid rest and a good night's sleep. Made by hand with love and attention to detail, it has fast become a favourite amongst our loyal customers.
Citrus scents, such as lemon and orange, are also quite popular in home fragrances. They have a fresh and invigorating aroma that can help boost energy levels and improve mood.
Vanilla is another popular home fragrance due to its warm and comforting aroma. It can help create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere in any room and is often used in candles, room sprays, and diffusers. Vanilla is also a versatile fragrance that can be paired with other scents such as lavender or cinnamon to create unique and inviting fragrances.
Choose wisely
If you have little people in the home or pets, there are many safe and natural options for home fragrances that are safe to use around animals and children. Beeswax candles, for example, are a natural alternative to scented candles and can be used safely in homes with pets and children. Soy candles and diffusers that use water and natural essential oils are also safe and effective options.
Conclusion
Home fragrances are a simple yet effective way to enhance your living space and improve your mood. Whether you prefer the scent of essential oils, fragranced oils, scented candles, or room mists, there are many options to choose from. By incorporating home fragrances into your daily routine, you can create a warm and inviting atmosphere that promotes relaxation, productivity, and wellbeing.
]]>But, hold off on your disposable BBQs and plastic cups for just a moment! This year, we should all be making an effort to have a more sustainable summer, helping our planet thrive for many more seasons to come. To get you started, we’ve put together some of the ways you can be more eco-conscious this July. Let’s get into it!
A lot of people enjoy refreshing their homes when the seasons change. But, if you’re looking to spruce up your space for the summer this year, be sure to keep the planet in mind. There are countless ways that you can decorate your home whilst keeping your environmental footprint minimal.
For example, you can add a summer feel to your home with dried flowers. Completely plastic-free from Wild & Rust, these beautiful botanicals are 100% natural and will last year after year. Use as table centrepieces, to brighten windowsills, or in your entryway for plenty of rustic charm.
Another way to shake up your space this summer is with a home fragrance. The Wild & Rust Botanical Diffuser is the perfect, eco-friendly scent for the season. Inspired by English country gardens, your home will fill with the sweet, fresh fragrance of jasmine, clary sage, rosewood, and vanilla, bringing an uplifting scent to your space. Or, take a peek at the Rosemary & Basil Herbal Diffuser, with natural oils extracted from herbs grown in South Devon and refillable bottles for a sustainable home fragrance.
We all love spending sunny days outdoors, but picnics in the park and BBQs on the beach can lead to a lot of waste. To minimise your plastic use whilst still making the most of the warm weather, here are some outdoor essentials that don’t cost the Earth (literally!).
First of all, we have beeswax wraps. These reusable cloths are covered in a layer of non-sticky wax and are ideal for wrapping up leftovers or covering bowls of food. They’re the perfect eco alternative to single-use clingfilm and tin foil. Get started with the Everyday Pack.
It’s also vital you bring a hand sanitiser with you when you’re outdoors. Ditch nasty chemicals and opt instead for the natural ingredients used in Fruits of Nature’s Green Tea Hand Sanitiser. The mini bottle is perfect for popping in your bag and the nourishing ingredients will kill bacteria without drying out your skin.
At Wild & Rust, we’re passionate about reducing the number of single-use items being used on a daily basis. It’s such an easy way to look after our planet! Here are some tips to cut down your own single-use waste when spending time outside:
Those are just a few ways to get started! Being conscious of what you’re purchasing and keeping supplies in your bag will quickly help you become a more eco-friendly consumer this summer.
It’s no secret that the world has a plastic problem, and it’s getting worse every year. So, this July, make it a priority to reduce your use. Actively look for plastic-free alternatives to your everyday staples, like buying loose fruits and vegetables instead of those in plastic film or bags.
You can also browse the Wild & Rust website for a huge range of plastic-free home and wellbeing products. We’re incredibly passionate about reducing plastic waste, so most of our items are plastic-free, and those that aren’t are always recyclable.
For example, the gorgeous Three Flowers + Clay Soap Bars we stock in-store and online are packaged in paper. This makes them a brilliant swap for plastic bottled hand wash, and the natural ingredients they contain feel luxurious on your skin, too. Or, if you still enjoy bottled washes, take a peek at the Plum & Ashby Hand and Body Wash in Vetiver and Lavender, which comes in a stylish amber glass bottle. Not only is it better for the environment, but it’ll look much more elegant on your sink, too!
These little swaps are so easy to make but can go a huge way in cutting down your plastic use. Look around your home and see what else you could swap for a plastic-free alternative.
There are so many ways that you can make your summer more sustainable. To get in as many as we can, we thought we’d create a quick list of eco-tips! Here’s what you could do this July to help save our planet:
If you’ve got more great tips to make this a super sustainable July, be sure to let us know by leaving a comment below. We always love hearing how our lovely customers are doing their bit!
Whether you’re buying for your biological dad, your partner, or someone who has always felt like a dad to you, we’ve got plenty of ideas for sustainable Father’s Day presents. Take a peek and find something they’ll love.
The use of CBD is on the rise in the UK. If your dad already enjoys using it or you think he’d be excited to give it a try, our CBD Gift Set is a great present. With organic CBD from British company Green Stem, it contains a wide range of products for your dad to explore. The set includes:
You can also take a look at our range of CBD oil, though these are only available from our sustainable shop in Henley-on-Thames.
The Rugged Nature Beard Trimming Kit is ideal for the sustainable man who likes to look his best. Fragranced with natural essential oils, the beard oil and beard balm are luxurious on the skin and a dream to use. The kit also contains stainless steel beard trimming scissors and a rugged wooden beard comb for touch-ups at home or on the go. Functional, high-quality, and a special gift to be treasured, if your dad has a beard this is a set you can’t go wrong with.
For men who prefer a clean shave, why not take a look at Rugged Nature’s Wet Shave Kit? Containing a beautiful coconut bowl, natural shaving soap, and a traditional shave brush, it’s ideal for the gentleman in your life.
Designed by an artist local to our eco shop, this beautiful print makes for a heartfelt present. Three wooden boats are lino printed onto a deep black or sunny mustard, with beautiful details etched into the image. Limited edition and using an original vintage French book press to print, these pieces are truly something special. If your dad likes boats, sailing, or being beside the sea, it’s the perfect gift!
A photo of you and your dad (or your partner and child) on Father’s Day is always a wonderful idea. Make this one a little different, though, with a sustainable Antiqued Zinc Frame. Our Kiki glass frames are strung with a recycled sari tie, making each one entirely unique. The glass and metal frames are rustic and contemporary, and should suit any home. Add a picture or some special items, like a ticket to a show you saw together, and you’re ready!
Long gone are the days when men couldn’t be treated to luxurious toiletries! If your dad wants to smell, look, and feel fresh, help him out by treating him to this All-Natural Shower Soap Bar, scented with uplifting and invigorating rosemary and lime. It’s also infused with charcoal for a thorough cleanse. Plastic-free and made in the UK, it makes a lovely addition to your Father’s Day gift bag.
If you’re a regular at our eco gift shop in Henley, you’ll know we love sustainable body products. So, of course we’ve included one of our wellbeing items in our gift guide! The Seaweed & Samphire Body Wash is a musky, masculine scent filled with the woody tones of samphire and the saltiness of the sea. Bottled in glass apothecary bottles and crafted in the UK from 98% natural ingredients, it’s a sustainable treat, too.
For skin that’s in need of a little TLC, add the Rugged Nature All-Over Moisturiser to your dad's grooming essentials this Father’s Day. With high-quality, natural ingredients and lightly fragranced with Eucalyptus and Rosemary essential oils, it’s super nourishing and perfect for all genders. We love that it comes in a quirky paint tin with a stainless steel guitar pick to open it up, too! Introduce your dad to self-care in a way that he’ll appreciate with this masculine moisturiser.
At Wild & Rust, we’re always uncovering rare finds and vintage treasures for our shop. One of our favourite pieces at the moment which we think would be a perfect Father’s Day gift is the Vintage Hancock Bros. Haulage Crate. In great condition but with plenty of rustic wear and tear, it’s a charming piece! Fill with bottles of beer or leave as is for a homeware gift that’s bound to impress.
Shampoo bars are the future of hair care. Ditching the plastic bottles and opting instead for recyclable cardboard packaging is a no-brainer. Whether your dad has made the switch already or not, make sure his showers are always eco-friendly and enjoyable with the Peppermint & Eucalyptus Shampoo Bar. A super fresh fragrance and simple, nourishing ingredients make for a no-frills bar that gets the job done well. Made for men (though women are welcome to use it too!) it’s another self-care item that’s bound to go down well.
Although the date of the Queen’s coronation was on the 6th February 1952, we’ll be celebrating the Platinum Jubilee from the 2nd to the 5th of June. If you’re marking the occasion with a very Royal garden party, we’ve put together some tips to help you celebrate in style - and sustainably, of course.
What’s more British than a piping hot cup of tea? Make sure you’re prepared to make plenty of brews with our loose-leaf herbal teas and cut down on the plastic waste from tea bags.
Spearmint and Peppermint make a refreshing drink on a warm day, whilst Lemongrass will add a little kick to your festivities! All of our teas come in gorgeous glass jars, too, so you can make a table display that’s worthy of the Queen herself.
If you’re having a large number of guests over, it could be smart to think about hiring catering for your garden party.
A caterer could either prepare you with nibbles, such as sandwiches, cakes, and scones. Or, you could hire a chef to create a lunchtime meal for your guests. Trust us, if you’re having a big party and you don’t enjoy cooking, it’ll be well worth the cost.
Adding fresh florals to a garden party is the obvious choice, but what about a selection of dried blooms? Stylish, chic, and perfectly on-trend, they’re a fantastic option for bringing something a little unique to your tables. What’s more, you can keep them long after the day’s over as a keepsake of this special event - your own Platinum Jubilee garden party memorabilia!
Take a peek at our Dried Flower Collection or pop into our sustainable shop in Henley to browse them in person.
Refreshments are a must for any Jubilee party. Rather than serving yours straight from the bottle or tap, why not distil your beverages into a beautiful dispenser instead?
Our Greys Water Dispenser is handmade from recycled glass that’s been hammered to achieve a distinctive, stylish texture. The lid is made from light-toned mango wood, whilst the tap is rustic brass. Fill with Pimms, lemon and cucumber water, or iced tea - whatever you fancy for the big day!
There’s no doubt you’ll have plenty of scones, Victoria sponge, and scotch eggs leftover once dusk has settled and the celebrations are coming to an end. Be prepared with eco-friendly Beeswax Wraps. These are a much more sustainable option than plastic clingfilm or single-use tinfoil. Reusable, biodegradable, and in a range of adorable patterns, they’re the perfect way to store your tasty treats.
We recommend Bumble Wrap’s Everyday Pack. With three different sizes, all of your storage needs are met without harming the environment.
Just because the sun has set doesn’t mean the party has to end! Prepare a dining table with a tablecloth, a few bottles of something delicious, and some nibbles as the night progresses.
We then recommend adding candles into the mix, providing your garden party with a soft, ambient glow to take you through the evening. Pop out a few vegan dining candles along with a scented candle or two. Try the Herbal Candle in Sage & Thyme for a fresh fragrance that will blend in perfectly with your garden.
We don’t want to jinx the bank holiday weekend, but this is the UK! We must always be prepared for bad weather. If you’re hosting a garden party, be sure to have a few contingency plans in place in case the sun fails to make an appearance.
A gazebo is a fantastic way to stay outside without getting wet, and having a few umbrellas on hand to keep guests dry as they walk to and from the shelter is a considerate touch. Provide blankets if it gets a little chilly, or consider lighting a chiminea or two for some cosy warmth.
Spending the day outdoors makes hand sanitiser a must. Even with Covid risk aside, it’s vital you have a nice bottle around so that people can quickly refresh their hands before eating food - especially finger food! If there are little ones who are likely to be getting a little mucky, it’s even more essential.
We recommend Fruits of Nature’s Green Tea Hand Sanitiser. Crafted from natural ingredients alongside 70% alcohol, it cleanses without drying and leaves hands gorgeously scented. The packaging is incredibly stylish too, so it will go perfectly with your chic garden party table!
The Platinum Jubilee is fast approaching, so if you’re having a garden party it’s time to get prepared! Hopefully these tips help you have a wonderful, royal day and a gorgeous bank holiday weekend.
If you’ve been inspired by the eco-friendly decor and wellbeing products we’ve spoken about, be sure to discover more on our website! We have a wide of eco-friendly items both online and in our Henley sustainable shop, from gorgeous plants to luxurious bath oils.
]]>Luckily, there are plenty of ways we may choose to bring the outside indoors! With these sustainable lifestyle and home decor tips, you can re-connect with the great outdoors and feel more grounded, allowing the world around you to bring joy and peace to your life. Let’s jump right in!
How could we not start with house plants? This is a brilliant way to bring some of Mother Nature indoors. It’s very hard to overdo house plants, too, with mini jungles fitting right into the home environment. Start by adding at least one houseplant to every room and go from there. Soon, you’ll have a thriving world of life and greenery to wake up to every day!
House plants aren’t just a beautiful addition to your home decor, they have plenty of other benefits too. They can rid your air of toxins, improve your skin, boost productivity, and even help you sleep better. In terms of wellbeing, they’re a goldmine.
A warm, comforting mug of herbal tea is a fantastic way to feel more grounded and in touch with the natural world. Brewed from herbs, spices, fruits, and all of the best natural ingredients the world has to offer, you’re drinking straight from nature’s cup! Herbal teas also come with a wide range of healthy benefits.
Chamomile and Lavender tea, for example, is well-known for its calming and relaxing properties. Ginger tea can soothe the stomach and relieve nausea, whilst Echinacea tea can boost your immune system.
At Wild & Rust, we also have a range of botanical blends of organic tea, crafted for different purposes. The Antioxidant Organic Tea, for example, is full of Sencha green tea, hibiscus, and citrus lemon, which is a refreshing blend that’s full of disease-fighting, skin-clearing antioxidants. Each infusion is packaged in a sustainable, plastic-free glass bottle, too, helping you to help nature, whilst nature helps you.
Add a few herbal brews to your kitchen for when you need a moment of calm or a boost to your mind.
Becoming more in touch with nature can take many forms. For us, we enjoy taking the time to find exquisite well-being products that are derived from natural ingredients, rather than chock-full of chemicals. By focusing on the healing power of nature, we become more in touch with the world around us.
A perfect addition to your bathroom this spring is the Bluebell collection from Fruits of Nature. A family-owned company based in Yorkshire, Fruits of Nature focus on creating nourishing products with divine fragrances from natural ingredients. This is a modern apothecary, using the power of plants for powerful products.
We recommend sampling our amazing (so our customers tell us too) Bluebell Hand Cream if you’re looking to give this gorgeous natural range a try. Or, add our Bluebell Bath Essence to your bathroom for a real treat, blending a few drops of the flower-infused oil with water for an indulgent and relaxing bath. So simple, yet so powerful.
In the modern world, we can be all too quick to rely on chemicals and man-made supplements to boost our health and wellbeing. But, nature can be just as powerful a remedy! Of course, for medical issues, you should always consult a medical professional before trying a herbal solution. However, for minor issues, natural remedies can give you a real boost.
Create a small herbal remedy cupboard in your home and start learning more about nature’s healing ingredients. CBD, for example, has become very popular in recent years for its anxiety-reducing and pain-relieving effects. Discover our full range of CBD at our sustainable shop in Henley.
We also have a few botanical tinctures at Wild & Rust. Our Organic Skin Tonic is perfect for cleansing your body and is rich in antioxidants, supporting a healthy immune system for a glow that begins within.
Dried flowers are a trend that’s here to stay! Offering an abundance of rustic chic and cottage charm, these colourful blooms are an ideal way to introduce the beauty of nature into your home. If you’re not green-fingered and often end up with houseplants that look more lacklustre than lively, this is a fantastic solution. Dried flowers are entirely low-maintenance, needing no water or care to stay looking beautiful.
Simply add your chosen bouquets to eco-friendly vases for an instant lift to your home. We particularly love the Izan Indigo Vase. Crafted from recycled glass in fresh and bright indigo, these handblown vases compliment neutral-toned dried flowers and add a light, breezy feel to the home.
If you’re a fan of brighter blooms, the clear glass of the Miza Smoke Glass Vase is the ideal choice. With smooth, curved contours for a contemporary look and finished with a unique brass ring, these Fairtrade and sustainable pieces are the perfect home for dried flowers.
Wild & Rust is a brand that’s always enthusiastic about nature! The world around us inspires us constantly, which is why we’re trying to help look after it with our ethical, sustainable home and wellbeing products. If you’re looking to incorporate more natural themes in your home and feel connected to the outdoors, browse more from our eco-friendly collections.
If you have any questions about the products mentioned here, feel free to get in touch with our team or pop in to our store at 28 Duke Street in Henley-on-Thames and we’ll be more than happy to help.]]>At Wild & Rust, we know the importance of getting outside and surrounding yourself with nature. It can provide a huge boost for your wellbeing, not to mention the physical benefits of a good walk. With that in mind, we’ve put together a little guide to help you plan your bluebell walk. There are plenty of sustainable tips, too, so that all you leave behind are footprints.
First things first, you need to find the perfect walk for you, your family, or your friends to enjoy. We recommend taking a peek at the routes offered by the Woodland Trust. These are often protected areas where the wildlife is looked after, allowing the trees, animals, and insects who call these spots home to flourish.
Whether you’re going on an all-day hike or an afternoon adventure, don’t forget to pack the essentials. A must for any outdoor activity is a good hand sanitiser. The Fruits of Nature Mini Green Tea Hand Sanitiser is perfect for removing germs whilst on the go. Made in the UK from natural ingredients alongside 70% alcohol, it kills bacteria and nourishes your skin simultaneously.
Other outdoor essentials include:
Don’t forget to bring a camera or smartphone for lots of beautiful bluebell photos, too!
Two essentials that definitely deserve their own section are food and water. Make sure to bring plenty of water in a reusable water bottle so that you don’t have to buy any plastic bottles whilst out. If you’re bringing sandwiches or other loose snacks, wrap them in Bumble Wrap Rolls. These are plastic-free clingfilm alternatives that are much better for our planet, and they come with a cute little bee home, too!
When back from your bluebell walk, you’ll have plenty of memories that you’ll want to cherish. But you can also make the experience last longer by stocking up on the sweetly scented Bluebell Collection from Fruits of Nature, a family-owned business that makes gorgeous natural products. We recommend starting with our Bluebell Soap Bar and Bluebell Hand Lotion. Whenever you use them, you’ll be transported back to meadows in full bloom and these sunny Spring days.
Wild & Rust is a sustainable gift shop in Henley, specialising in lifestyle products and home decor. We’re also big advocates for looking after your wellbeing, and it’s something we talk a lot about on our blog and in our newsletters. Be sure you’re subscribed for plenty more tips to make your life happier and your health better!
If you have any questions about the products mentioned here, don’t hesitate to email our team. We’ll be more than happy to help.
]]>Looking at that, there’s no doubt that our country has a problem with feeling overwhelmed. If you’re worried about stress affecting your life, we’ve put together our top five tips to keep you calm in 2022.
A great way to spot what makes you stressed is to keep a journal. Every time you notice you’re feeling overwhelmed, write it down and note the situation you’re in. Pretty soon, you should be able to notice a patterns in what triggers you. If some of the triggers are avoidable, like rushing to get ready when you could get up twenty minutes earlier, you can start changing your behaviour to reduce stress.
This might sound crazy, but green tea could do a lot to calm you down! Natural green tea contains copious amounts of L-theanine, an ingredient that’s been known to reduce stress levels. The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed and angry, take some time out to make a steaming cup of green tea and see if it helps you.
Houseplants are well known for their mood-boosting, stress-reducing effects. If you can add some greenery into spaces where you often feel stressed, such as your office, as well as areas you relax in, you might find yourself better able to deal with difficult situations. Take a look at our houseplant range in Henley to create a calming jungle of your own.
When you’re stressed, it's common to experience tunnel vision and focus only on the negatives. Take a minute out to sit down and write out some positive thoughts, be it about the day you're having or your life in general. Reminding yourself of all the good things you can look forward to and enjoy is a fantastic way to put stressful situations in perspective!
Your home should be a space where you feel comfortable, calm, and relaxed. But if it’s messy you’re not going to be any of those things. Declutter your home this spring and give yourself room to breathe. Once you’ve decluttered, invest in a few relaxing homewares to create a welcoming environment you can come home to. We recommend a plant wax candle, like the Wild & Rust Botanical Candle, fragranced with jasmine, clary sage, vanilla, and rosewood.
The start of this year hasn’t been what most of us expected, and there’s certainly a lot going on in the world right now. If you’re feeling a little flat coming out of winter, this is the perfect opportunity to turn things around. Spring and Easter are all about new beginnings, giving all of us a chance to put our best foot forward and give this year the boost it needs.
To help inspire you, we’ve put together a little guide from our gift shop in Henley to help lift your spirits, create a happy home, and make these next few months truly incredible!
If you’re feeling a little low or overwhelmed, the first step to a new start is to boost your mood. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to do that.
First of all, make sure you’re looking after yourself. Humans are a lot like plants, and we need sunlight, water, and nourishment to grow. With that in mind, make sure you’re staying hydrated and getting outside at least once a day, preferably in somewhere that’s natural like a park, woodlands, or the seaside. Focus on creating a healthy, balanced diet that’s full of vegetables to give your body the fuel it needs.
Try and speak to people who make you feel good, too, even if that just means a phone call. Chatting with someone who makes you laugh can do wonders for your outlook! If you’re ever looking for a natter, you could always pop by our eco shop in Henley and our friendly Team will always be happy to have a chat.
Another tip we live by is to create a home you love to be in. If you’re living in a space that’s messy and doesn’t feel quite like you, you won’t feel happy living in it. So, this Spring, make sure you focus on creating a home you love.
A brilliant way to feel more positive and focused every day is by surrounding yourself with greenery. People didn’t always live in brick houses, and not seeing any nature isn’t good for the mind. Instead, fill your home with lush houseplants to breathe life back into the everyday.
Plants can have incredible effects on your physical and mental wellbeing. The RHS report that plants can reduce fatigue, leaving you feeling more prepared to take on the day, improving your attention span, and increasing your productivity. They also improve air quality in the home, ridding your space of nasty toxins and helping you breathe easier.
Plants can even help you feel happier! There’s a lot of well-documented evidence that having houseplants in a home can reduce stress and help people fight mental illnesses, including anxiety and depression.
Spring is the ideal time to bring houseplants into your home, helping your indoors reflect the blooming of nature that’s currently happening outdoors.
If you’re not used to taking care of plants, succulents are a great, low-maintenance option to kickstart your jungle. Bring in a splash of colour with the beautiful Aechmea Fasciata ‘Primera’, which is also easy to care for and has beautiful pink blooms to brighten up your home. To add character and lift your spirits every day, we recommend the quirky Anana ‘Mi Amigo’, otherwise known as the Pineapple Plant! Who wouldn’t feel a little better with a pineapple in their living room?
If you’re using Spring as an opportunity for a new beginning, you probably have a few goals in mind. Be sure to write these down and pop them somewhere easily visible, like on your fridge door or hung on a wall using one of our Kiko Antiqued Frames. By placing them in a spot you see every day, you can manifest your goals and keep your focus where it needs to be.
However, it’s important not to get bogged down in goals and targets. Remember to have some fun, too! Find a routine for you, whether that means taking weekends off from your targets completely or being flexible with your routine to make time for social events.
Other tips that might help include:
We don’t know about you, but our surroundings have a huge impact on our wellbeing. Everything from happiness to productivity can be affected by where we are! If you spend a lot of time in your home, make sure you’re creating a space that helps rather than hinders you.
We have plenty of stylishly sustainable home decor and accessories at Wild & Rust, our gift shop in Henley-on-Thames. This spring, we think the Begonia Lino Print created by a local artist is the perfect way to begin your decorating.
Remember, too, that scent plays a very important role in our homes. If you walk into a room that smells fresh and uplifting, you’re going to feel fresh and uplifted! Add a Rosemary and Basil Diffuser to your space for a gorgeous, natural scent that’s perfect for spring, or try out our Botanical Room Mist in lemon and clary sage for a sweet scent designed to renew and inspire. Almost everyone that enters our little store in Henley on Thames comments on how amazing it smells!
At Wild & Rust, we think it’s never too late to have a great year. If 2022 hasn’t been exactly as you imagined so far, we hope these tips may inspire you! Create a new beginning and welcome warmer weather with a smile and a spring in your step.
If you have any questions about our sustainable shop in Henley or about any of the products mentioned here, feel free to get in touch with our team and we’ll be happy to help.
Hope to see you soon.
]]>Spring 2022 will begin on the 20th of March in the Northern Hemisphere. On the same day, we’ll also be celebrating International Happiness Day around the world. To us, that sounds like an absolutely wonderful time! The promise of more sunshine and a time to reflect on what makes us happy: it feels like it’s coming just as we need it.
If you’re getting in the spirit of Spring and all things joyful, our team at Wild & Rust have put together some ideas to boost your mood and lift your spirits. Winter is soon behind us, and brighter days are coming!
Before getting into our tips, let’s take a brief look at what International Happiness Day is all about.
This global day was established to raise more awareness of mental health issues and prioritise happiness. The organisation believe that the world has become too caught up in success and the never-ending climb for promotions, more money, and better materials items, and we need to shift our goals to become more joy-centric.
Every year, they create brilliant resources to spread joy and promote self-care. With expert webinars and free happiness coaching, it’s a fantastic place to learn how to put your mental health first. This year, we hope everyone takes the time to focus on their happiness, making 2022 the year of joy.
Spring is a time of renewal and the flourishing of life. What better way to embrace these things than by filling your home with luscious houseplants? Plants also come with a whole host of benefits, including boosting your mood, which is perfect for International Happiness Day!
NASA discovered that houseplants can reduce toxins in your home by almost 90% within 24 hours, along with making you feel calmer and lowering your blood pressure. You’ll be healthier physically and mentally, and your space will be brighter and full of colour. It’s the perfect way to welcome spring into your home.
At Wild & Rust, we have a whole range of indoor houseplants for you to browse through. Some of our top picks include Aloe Vera, which has a really unique aesthetic and is super practical (its leaves contain Aloe Vera gel which has many uses!), Maranta Fascinator which is a beautifully striking plant, and the Yucca Elephnatides, a plant that makes a statement and is really easy to care for.
Bringing nature inside in the form of houseplants is a fantastic way to lift your mood every day, but getting outside is also important. As the weather warms and the days get longer, it’s the perfect opportunity to don your walking boots again and get back to nature!
People who feel connected to nature and spend more time outdoors tend to be happier, making it a fantastic way to focus more on your mental health. This Spring and International Happiness Day, make an effort to leave your home and head for a hike, a stroll by the beach, or a walk around the park. If you can get your heart rate up with exercise and boost your endorphins, even better!
Treating yourself to a few luxuries here and there is a form of self-care. There’s nothing wrong with a little indulgence, especially when you’re looking at sustainable products that don’t harm the planet. This Spring, invest in a collection you love for your bathroom, like the Bluebell Range from Fikkerts Fruits of Nature. All-natural, gorgeously scented, and made in the UK, their products are divine and make a wonderful addition to any home.
We’d recommend starting with a few staples, including their plastic-free Bluebell Soap Bar that cleanses and soothes, their beautifully scented Bluebell Hand Wash, and their truly indulgent Bluebell Body Cream, perfect for skin that could do with a little TLC after winter.
The memories of lockdowns and quarantines are still fresh in our minds. The pandemic has been tough on everyone, but with Spring on its way we’ve managed to face out the hardest part of the year. Well done everyone! This International Happiness Day - and for all the days following - we should be holding our loved ones a little closer for a little longer (providing it’s safe to do so, of course).
Spending time with the people who mean the most to you is a tried and tested method to feel joyful and boost wellbeing! Go for a hike with your best friend, turn your lunch break into a romantic picnic date with your partner, or get your family together for a day of outdoor games and delicious food. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you’re present in the moment and let those wholesome feelings flow.
Is your home in need of a little bit of love and care? After the busy Christmas period, the stresses of getting back into a routine in January, and the strange in-between time that is February, your home may have taken a backseat. But now that Spring is almost here, throw open those windows and clear away the cobwebs - it’s time to clean and redecorate!
Creating a space you love to come home to is a vital part of boosting happiness. It’s no secret that cleaning can decrease stress and make you feel clearer, happier, and more ready to face the day. Make time around International Happiness Day to transform your home.
For sustainable inspiration, take a peek at our blog with tips to create a more eco-friendly bathroom. We also have plenty of ethical accessories you can use to create a more functional, beautiful space that suits your aesthetic. ]]>In March, we’ll be celebrating two very special events: International Women's Day and Mother’s Day. If that isn’t the world saying it’s time to celebrate women, we don’t know what is! So, let’s celebrate all things feminine, from Mother Nature to your own mums.
Internation Women’s Day (on the 8th March 2022) is a holiday celebrated around the world. It’s a day to celebrate the incredible achievements of women, socially, culturally, and politically, and to shine a light on the various types of gender discrimination that still exist today. The organisation dreams of a world where stereotypes and discrimination are a thing of the past, and women are held up in societies across the globe as equal to men.
At Wild & Rust, we’re a team of women, so it’s no surprise that we love this special day! It’s a chance to empower your fellow females and celebrate femininity, putting the spotlight on the amazing achievements of women in the world. What’s not to love?
Mother’s Day (27th March) is a more commonly known holiday, partly because it’s been celebrated for a lot longer. Nonetheless, it can be easy to let the day slip past without notice. This year, make an extra effort to celebrate the mothers in your life, whoever they may be. Perhaps it’s your genetic mum, your adoptive mum, a woman who has always felt like a mother to you, or a woman who is a mother to someone else. It doesn’t matter, as long as you’re celebrating them!
Mother’s Day is a day to appreciate the value of mothers in our society. From preparing packed lunches and wiping snotty noses, to giving you a call when you’re down and raising brilliant men and women, mothers do a whole lot without expecting a thank you. So, take the time to let them know you value them this March.
March is the month of the feminine, and to us, there’s one female that deserves a whole lot of appreciation we haven’t mentioned yet - Mother Nature. Although Earth Day isn’t until April, we don’t see a reason not to celebrate the planet we call home in the month of females. In fact, why not do something to show your love for the Earth every month? It doesn’t have to be big, just a little gesture to reflect your appreciation for our beautiful home.
If you want to join us in celebrating the amazing women in your life, we’ve put together a few gift ideas to help you. Of course, presents aren’t the only way to show the girls around you how incredible they are. You could also offer a free night of babysitting for tired a mother, cook dinner for your favourite girlfriends, or take over the household chores for a woman in your life. Having said that, a little gift doesn’t hurt!
All of our beautiful items at WIld & Rust are sustainable, too, helping you celebrate Mother Nature whilst you shine the light on your favourite females. Give a gift that doesn’t hurt the planet with these top picks.
Houseplants are a thoughtful, eco-friendly gift that’s definitely worthy of the most fabulous ladies in your life. We have a wide range to pick from in our plant shop in Henley, including the stunning and ever-popular Snake Plant (also appropriately nicknamed “Mother in Law’s Tongue”!) and the elegant Fiddle Leaf Fig. Browse our Artisan Plant Pots, too, to give your green friend a home.
Busy women deserve some time off. But, as we all know, we can sometimes forget to take care of ourselves when constantly putting others first or striving to further our careers. Show your favourite women that they deserve a break with our Wellbeing Gift Set. A beautiful collection of natural, rose-scented products (including a Bath Essence and Hand Cream), it’s pure indulgence in an eco-friendly box!
Thinking of getting the woman in your life a run-of-the-mill bouquet? Think again! If you want to show a mother, best friend, or all-around amazing lady how brilliant they are, they deserve flowers that are beautiful, special, and last a lifetime. Browse our Dried Flower Bar for inspiration and pick out thoughtful and stylish blooms to bring colour to your loved one’s home.
There’s no doubt that women are powerful forces of nature. Multi-tasking, caring, driven humans, a woman is an incredible being! But, even us ladies need a boost now and again. Our Herbal Tinctures are the perfect gift to keep an amazing woman always feeling her best, both inside and out. Natural remedies to boost skin, immunity, and brainpower, these potions are amazing pick-me-ups that keep incredible ladies doing incredible things.
At Wild & Rust, we have a lot of visitors at our gift shop in Henley and our online shop who are trying to put together the perfect present. That’s why we have gorgeous Kraft Gift Boxes made of recycled materials and tied with a pretty ribbon so that you can give a tailored, meaningful present. Fill it with all the sustainable treasures you can find, from our tinctures and balms to candles and loose leaf teas!
If you believe in the power of women and Mother Nature, join the Wild & Rust community today! Sign up to our newsletters for more news of the planet and our sustainable goods, making sure you’re always up to date, and support a business made by women.
]]>If you haven’t tried their range yet, we’re focusing our attention on their Rose collection this February. What better time to try their homage to the most romantic flower than in the month that’s all about love? Read on to discover everything you need to know about this sweet-scented collection and find your perfect pick!
Fikkerts is actually quite an old British brand, having first been established over 100 years ago. Using natural ingredients, they first made medicinal products, such as cough mixtures and teas to aid sleep. As the company was passed down through the generations, the product ranges expanded and evolved.
Now, the family business’ most popular range is undoubtedly their Fruits of Nature collection, which captures scents from the English Countryside. They’ve combined their traditional knowledge of herbology with modern aromatherapy techniques to create something truly exquisite for your self-care routine. Made from sustainable, natural, and vegan ingredients, they’re a brand for the modern individual who wants to keep in touch with traditional roots.
At Wild & Rust, we’re huge fans of all of the Fruits of Nature products, but February is always the time of year we open up our Rose collections! They’re undeniably romantic, and make wonderful presents for loved ones on Valentine’s Day, or as a self-care treat for yourself.
The sweet, floral fragrance has been naturally distilled using real rose petals. If you’re used to artificial rose scents, this will be a wholly new experience. Fresh and potent, you’ll never go back to faux rose after you’ve experienced the delicacy of the real thing.
We think the Rose range is ideal for sharing the love this year. Using their products helps you to become more mindful and encourages self-love, ensuring you take that little extra time out during the day to take care of yourself. Made from the highest quality vegan ingredients, get ready to lavish yourself in the gentle sweetness of the most romantic flower of all this February.
Without further ado, let’s take a peek at some of the gorgeous products you can try from this quintessentially British brand!
If you love a bath (or know someone who does) you’ll fall head over heels for the Fruits of Nature Rose Bath Essence. This milky oil is all-natural and the perfect addition to your soak, adding a few drops of pure indulgence to your hour of peace. The essence contains gorgeous dried blooms suspended in the oil, making for a really beautiful gift.
To create a bath infused with roses, simply pour a little into warm water. You’ll witness the oil transform into a moisturising milk that disperses through the water to nourish, hydrate, and soothe your skin. Pair with a hot cup of tea, some relaxing music, and a good book for a blissful soak.
There’s no better feeling than stepping out of a bath or shower, still warm and relaxed from your soak, and applying a body cream you love to clean, soothed skin. That, for us, is serenity.
The Fruits of Nature Rose Body Cream is one of our favourite choices for hydrating skin. With that beautiful sweet Rose fragrance, you don’t even need to worry about perfume! You’ll smell floral and fragrant all day long, spreading the love wherever you go.
It’s also an incredibly rich cream, so you only need a little bit to moisturise dry skin. Trust us, after using this alongside the milky bath essence, you’ll be glowing.
Self-care isn’t always about baths and moisturising. Sometimes, taking some time out of your day to appreciate yourself can be as simple as cooking a healthy meal, taking time to journal, or… lighting a candle.
The nights are still dark at the moment, and a candle is the perfect way to bring a bit of warmth and light back into your evenings. The Fruits of Nature Rose Candle - made from sustainable soy wax - is the ideal fragrance for the month of love, and a beautiful way to relax and unwind. Light yours to fill your home with the scent of real roses, transporting yourself to an English garden in full bloom and dream of the warmer spring that awaits us.
If candles aren’t really your thing, but you’d still love to fill your home with fragrant roses, take a look at the Fruits of Nature Rose Diffuser. Made from natural oils and sustainable materials, it’s the eco-friendly way to keep your home smelling gorgeous.
If you love Fruits of Nature as much as we do or you fancy trying a product, be sure to check out our whole range! We stock many of their gorgeous, sustainable self-care products. If you have any questions about the items mentioned here, or any others we’ve mentioned, feel free to get in touch with our team - we’ll be more than happy to help!
]]>If you’re going to be sharing the love this year, we thought we’d do our bit to help. Whether you’re buying for him, for her, or for yourself (self-care Valentine’s Days are absolutely a thing), we’ve put together our top presents to ensure everybody feels the love. Take a peek and let’s get romantic!
If you know a man who’s always on the go, give them a present that will help them wind down. This Green Stem CBD Sleep Tincture is made from the highest quality organic CBD right here in the UK and is infused with magnesium, vitamin B6, and zinc. Together, this is one powerful concoction to help your loved one get better sleep.
In 2022, there’s nothing saying that a man can’t enjoy a luxurious body wash. This Mandarin & Ginger scent is ideal for adding a little warming spice to their shower and is crafted from natural essential oils to nourish the skin. Spicy and uplifting, it also comes in a super sustainable glass bottle, making this perfect for the eco-conscious man in your life!
Gifting someone art is romantic. Gifting someone art that’s sustainably produced is a whole new level of love. We have a few different eco-friendly lino prints at Wild & Rust, including the Begonia and Sansevieria prints which make a beautiful pair! Created by a local artist in the English countryside, there’s only a limited run of these artworks so snap them up whilst you can.
It’s normal to gift candles for Valentine’s Day, so we thought we’d think a little outside of the box this year. Our idea? These beautiful Mango Wood Hurricane Lamps. Made from recycled glass and natural wood, they’re a unique gift for the woman in your life who loves her candles! They make wonderful centrepieces for a homemade dinner or pair perfectly with a romantic bath and a few rose petals as part of the perfect Valentine’s Day.
At Wild & Rust, we have a selection of vintage items carefully hand-selected by our team. One of our favourites at the moment is this incredible Vintage Brewery Crate, which has sailed across the seas from the Timmerman Brewery in Brugge and eventually landed right here in the UK. We think it would make a delightful eco-friendly Valentine’s Day present for your special lady. Fill it with her favourite bottles of wine, gin, or fruit juices for a gift that’s bound to please.
A gorgeous houseplant is always a thoughtful gift, and nothing beats this Senecio String of Pearls - at least not in our opinion! Easy to care for, this is a fantastic choice for someone who is looking to start nurturing their green fingers and delve into the world of plant care. It also has adorable pea-like leaves, which are just too cute to leave in the shop (or your basket if you’re shopping online).
Who is to say that you can’t make this Valentine’s Day a time to treat yourself? Self-love is perhaps the most important love of all! Start your day off with a mug of this warming loose leaf tea from Wilder, a London based company that produce small batches of truly exquisite brews. Their Beauty Tea is designed to nourish you physically and mentally, making it the perfect Valentine’s Day self-care treat.
If you don’t often treat yourself to a long soak in the bath or an indulgent shower, now’s the time to do so. Invest in a few staple pieces for your bathroom to turn your space into a relaxing spa, like the De-Stress Bath & Body Oil from Yellow Gorse. Crafted from natural oils, it’s nourishing to your skin and has a gorgeous scent designed to help you find inner peace. We also recommend the Fruits of Nature Rose Body Cream for silky, sweet-smelling skin.
Every special Valentine’s Day needs flowers. This year, why not buy yourself a gorgeous bouquet? You should always be your own number one fan, after all! At Wild & Rust, we have an amazing Dried Flower Bar where you can browse through plenty of dried blooms. Stylish, easy to look after, and long-lasting, you won’t just have a bouquet for the day, but for life! Isn’t that lovely?
If you want to share the love this year and celebrate the beauty of life, make your Valentine’s Day sustainable. It’s easy to show someone (or yourself) how much you care without harming the planet, and these ideas prove that. Made from renewable materials with a low carbon footprint, they’re fantastic for an eco-friendly Valentine’s Day.
If you have any questions about the products we’ve mentioned here, drop us an email or pop by our shop in Henley-on-Thames where a member of our team will be happy to help!]]>At Wild & Rust, we're making 2022 the year to seriously cut down on plastic. From reusable bags to purchasing jarred goods over plastic bottles, every little thing you can do to reduce your plastic use will go a long way to helping the planet!
As things stand, the amount of plastic rubbish that seeps into our beautiful oceans every year is set to triple by 2040. If that happens, we'll be choking the seas with 29 million metric tonnes every twelve months. But, we can stop that!
You can start reducing global plastic pollution right from the comfort of your own home. Switching to a plastic-free household may sound challenging, but if you break it down room by room, it's actually very easy. Our sustainable shop in Henley-on-Thames has lots of zero-waste swaps and sustainable tips to help you on your way, too!
To get started, let's begin by looking at your bathroom and the swaps you can make to become plastic-free.
When you think about it, there's no need for all of our shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, and other magic potions in our bathrooms to come in plastic bottles. Opting for glass is not only better for the planet, but it looks much chicer, too!
We have a wide range of plastic-free alternatives, helping you to shop sustainably. Take a peep at our Rosemary, Geranium & Mint Multi-Purpose Wash as a sustainable shower gel, shampoo, and hand wash, our sweetly fragranced Lavender Bath Salts for ultimate relaxation, and our Wild Fig & Saffron Bath Essence for a luxury soak when you want to feel your very best. All of these are plastic-free, blended with a high content of natural ingredients and are made right here in the UK, giving them a low carbon footprint too!
If you're up for going back to a more traditional way of washing, why not buy a few handmade soap bars for your plastic-free bathroom? Our Fruits of Nature Rose Soap is made in Yorkshire by a family-run company from natural, nourishing ingredients designed to leave your skin healthy and soft. Vegan, sustainable, and with a beautiful floral scent, every bathroom should have at least one bar!
If you love stepping out of your bath and treating your skin to a silky moisturiser, you don't have to constantly buy plastic bottles and tubs. We have a wide range of glass bottled creams, like this invigorating and warm Seaweed & Samphire Hand & Body Lotion. Dark, woody and with an uplifting freshness, it's the perfect comfort scent and will linger on your skin all day. It's also made from 98% natural ingredients that have been selected to give your skin a healthy boost of moisture, making sure you glow wherever you go.
If you're not a huge fan of creams, our Energising Bath & Body Oil is an ideal alternative. Versatile and wonderfully scented with natural oils, you can apply it directly for silky smooth skin, or add a drop or two to your bath for a relaxing, nourishing soak. A fantastic product worthy of it's 5-star rating!
Did you know that a household of four people uses eight toilet rolls a week on average? If you're still buying your toilet paper in plastic packaging, that's going to rack up quickly. But, there are more and more alternatives out there to help you go plastic-free in your bathroom.
We particularly love rolls that are individually wrapped in beautiful paper designs, like these from Bumboo (bonus points for each roll being produced from sustainably sourced bamboo, too!). You can pop them in a wire basket or stack them on a shelf for a stylish addition to your bathroom.
Your bathroom is a sanctuary. It's a place to unwind in a hot, fragranced bath after a long day and get ready to feel your best before an evening out. If you want it to feel like a haven, there's no doubt you'll want to accessorise it to make the space feel welcoming. But how do you do that sustainably?
Our solution at Wild & Rust is to opt for plenty of greenery. Many plants thrive in humid environments like bathrooms, and they're an eco-friendly way to add colour, life, and character to your space. We have plenty of plants to choose from at our sustainable shop in Henley-on-Thames, along with a gorgeous selection of artisan plant pots.
If you're not green-fingered and the thought of taking care of plants isn't ideal, why not take a look at our Dried Flower Bar? These gorgeous flowers don't need to be watered and will last for years to come, adding splashes of colour to your bathroom if strategically placed - just don't get them wet!
A bathroom needs plenty of storage, but that doesn't mean you need to stock up on a mountain of plastic. There are so many other options to keep your beautiful glass bottles sorted and your towels safely bundled. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of creativity! Luckily, we've got plenty of ideas to help you.
Our Vintage Hancock Bros. haulage Crate is the perfect spot to place your folded towels and washcloths, as are our Seagrass Baskets. If you're looking for a plastic-free solution to keep your lotions and potions tidy, what about our Little Green Trug from France? Or, for products you'd like to keep more private, this incredible Thomas Vintage Military Trunk is a real showstopper and will add an industrial-chic feel to your space.
We love sourcing unique pieces of sustainable furniture for our shop, so keep checking our Sustainable Home range for our newest finds!
If you're making 2022 the year you go plastic-free, our little eco shop can help. We stock a wide range of eco-friendly goods, often handmade in the UK and from sustainable materials. We also hand-select a few unique vintage pieces so that you can create a home you love without the guilt.
Be sure to read through our blog for more tips on how to create a more sustainable home, or get in touch with our team today with any questions about our products. When it comes to sustainability, we're always happy to help!
]]>Another year is wrapping to a close, which means there’s a new start on the horizon.
At Wild & Rust, we adore a new year! It’s a fresh calendar full of opportunities and surprises, and a chance to put your best foot forward for the months ahead. No matter what’s happened in 2021, we’re looking at a new chapter - and we’re excited to get going!
One brilliant way to kick-start your new year is by making resolutions. But, we’re not talking about promising to go to the gym or cutting out chocolate, we’re talking about sustainable New Year’s resolutions. These help us all to think beyond our own goals and look at how we can help the planet.
What better way to start a new year than by helping to save the world?
When we talk about sustainable New Year’s resolutions, we’re talking about goals that are related to lowering your negative impact on the planet. That could be reducing your carbon footprint, cutting down on plastic waste, or anything else that’s going to make your life greener! Creating eco-friendly resolutions is a fantastic way to set out clear goals that you can work towards, turning “I’d like to cut down my impact” to “I will cut down my impact, and here’s how”.
To inspire your sustainable goals for 2022, here are seven resolutions that are guaranteed to help the planet.
Did you know that over 100 million cups of tea are drunk in the UK every day? There’s no doubt that the Brits love a brew, and we certainly live up to the stereotype.
But, a lot of teabags contain plastic, making our tea-drinking habits a strain on the planet. In 2022, one of your sustainable New Year’s resolutions could be to switch to loose leaf tea instead, ditching the unnecessary teabag altogether. You’ll produce less waste, your tea will consume less energy when produced, and you’ll still have a delicious mug of herbal goodness ready to warm you up.
Take a peep at our wide range of loose leaf teas to make the switch. Don’t forget to purchase a tea strainer if you haven’t already got one, too! Our Antique Brass Strainer is handmade from sustainable materials, making it the perfect addition to your new eco-friendly tea-making ritual.
How many times do you forget to bring your reusable bag?
Bringing a reusable bag with you when you go shopping is such a fantastic way to reduce needless waste, but so often people forget to bring theirs. To err is human, so it’s no surprise that we’re not perfect! Though this is an area that we really should work hard to get better at.
If you struggle to remember your reusable bag, try to always have one spare in your handbag, coat pocket, car, or wherever else it’ll be the most useful. Make a spot near your door where you keep reusable bags, too, and get in the habit of pausing for a moment before you leave to think if you’ll need one.
We have beautiful Organic Cotton Totes at Wild & Rust. Their bold, bright design makes them hard to forget, and they’re lightweight enough to bring with you wherever you go!
Global shipping emits a very scary 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. But, why buy something that’s going to have to be transported thousands of miles when you can find most of what you need in the UK?
We’re big believers in buying local at Wild & Rust. We always try to stock products made (usually by hand) here in the UK to cut down on emissions caused by shipping, helping all of our customers lower their carbon footprint. If you want to join in, make it a resolution to shop more locally!
That doesn’t mean you always have to shop from your town or city - although if you’re in Henley-on-Thames our sustainable shop has you covered. But, when you buy something, try and look for an option that’s made here in our country and your shopping will instantly be greener.
There’s no doubt that the world has a plastic pollution problem, but things are changing. Zero-waste and sustainable shops like ours are popping up all over the place, and 8 out of 10 consumers in England are trying to reduce their plastic waste. If you want to join them, a great sustainable New Year’s resolution for 2022 is to start creating a plastic-free bathroom!
It’s a little less daunting than turning your whole home plastic-free, and there’s a wealth of fantastic products out there to help you get started. Switch from shower gels and hand soaps in plastic bottles to our gorgeous UK-made soap bars. We also have lots of bath and shower products in glass bottles, like this naturally scented Geranium & Orange Hand and Body Wash, and matching Bath Salts.
Other great swaps include:
Over the coming months, you can transform your bathroom into a peaceful haven full of beautiful, locally produced products, all made without plastic.
Reducing waste is a brilliant eco-friendly New Year’s resolution. By cutting down on wasted materials around your home, you can create a much more sustainable household - and life! There are plenty of areas to focus on here, too, and you can keep working on reducing waste throughout the year.
First of all, try to buy fewer products with packaging designed to be thrown away, opting instead for recyclable or - even better - reusable packaging. If you have a zero-waste food shop you can buy from, that’s an easy way to quickly down on packaging waste - We love The Willow basket in Henley-on-Thames .
You should also try to keep food waste to a minimum. Only buy and cook what you know you’ll eat, freeze leftovers so nothing goes to waste, and compost any peelings and rubbish.
Finally, at all costs avoid single-use products wherever possible. If you can do that in 2022, you’re on your way to a much more eco-conscious year!
If you’ve been reading the papers or watching the news recently, you’ve probably heard a lot about Plan B. The government has coined the term to describe the new Covid rules, but at Wild & Rust, we have a different meaning for Plan B - and it’s a lot more cheerful!
We use Plan B to talk about all of those last-minute stocking fillers and Christmas gifts in the run-up to the 25th. If you’re guilty of Christmas Eve shopping or have forgotten someone in your secret Santa, you’re not alone! There will be plenty of others out there rushing to the shops to find something as the clocks tick ever-closer to Christmas Day.
That’s why we always have a Plan B. These are small stocking fillers that you can use for everyone. Whether you receive an unexpected gift from a friend or left your great uncle John off of your Christmas shopping list, you’ll have a gift prepared that’s wrapped and ready to go.
If you’d like to sort out your own Plan B, here are our top sustainable Christmas gifts and eco-friendly stocking fillers. Good luck - and Merry Christmas!
During the winter months, there’s nothing better than getting in from the cold, popping on your slippers, and lighting your living room candles. Warming and undeniably cosy, we don’t know anyone who doesn’t enjoy decorating their space with candles! This year, keep a few of our Beeswax Dining Candles in your back pocket (maybe not literally) as a last-minute gift.
Made from natural dyes and fragrances, these gorgeous candles will add a dash of luxury to every dining table. Each pair is made using traditional techniques by a small team of trained artisans, and they make lovely sustainable stocking fillers.
Christmas tree decorations make lovely gifts this time of year, and you can gift them to almost anyone! Men, women, old, young; as long as they celebrate Christmas, beautiful tree decor is always appreciated. We have a wide selection of eco-friendly Christmas decorations that you can have wrapped and waiting as backups this year.
Take a look at a few of our smaller pieces, like our Jai Glass Bells, Antique Gold Baubles, and Nevasa Baubles, which can be paired in a beautiful presentation box for a wonderful gift. Or make a statement with a single Giant Nevasa Bauble in Smoke & Copper.
If you’re on the hunt for last-minute sustainable Christmas presents, our Artisan Ceramic Plant Pot is ideal for any homeowner! Handmade from eco-friendly materials, they’re beautifully decorated with a rustic-chic look that’s quite unique and compliments plants perfectly. Add a small succulent to your pot for a plant that’s easy to look after and a pot that will look right at home on any shelf or mantle.
Nothing says stocking filler like shower gel, but this Mandarin & Ginger Hand and Body Wash is a little different from your usual bottles! Luxurious, handmade in the UK, and packaged in traditional glass bottles, it wouldn’t look out of place in an apothecary. It’s also exquisitely fragranced with natural essential oils and is designed to cleanse the skin without drying it, leaving you feeling moisturised and smelling sweet when you step out of the bath. It’s one of those gifts people may not buy for themselves but will love to receive - and isn’t that the perfect present?
Okay, so a dried flower bouquet may not fit in a stocking, but it’s still a fantastic last-minute present for anyone you’ve forgotten! Keep a few bunches prepared in Christmas gift bags so that all you have to do is write the tag and you have an elegant present ready to give.
You could make your own bouquet by pairing a few of our dried flowers, like Lavender and Charchol Pampas, or opt for our arrangements, like Wild Blush, for an impressive centrepiece. Unlike fresh flowers, these bouquets won’t wilt before you gift them, and they’ll last for years to come after that, too!
When it comes to sustainable stocking fillers, you can’t forget hand cream. Every stocking needs a delightfully fragranced hand cream in our opinion, especially now that we’re constantly drying out our skin with hand sanitiser. In fact, it’s never been a more appropriate present! Our Seaweed & Samphire Hand Cream is an ideal plastic-free stocking filler. With a deep, rich scent and 98% natural ingredients, it’s an indulgent cream that’ll make anyone happy this Christmas.
Gift sets can be really hit and miss at Christmas. That’s why we worked hard to create sets that are not only eco-friendly but also contain thoughtful products that people will really enjoy receiving. They’re a really easy way to give a substantial present this year, and you should definitely have a couple in your cupboard for those just-in-case scenarios!
Our Cinnamon Gift Set is quintessentially festive, containing ethically sourced baubles, a nourishing soap bar made in the UK, and a botanical candle in a stylish glass jar. Or, for something a little more unique, why not take a peek at our Green Stem CBD Gift Set full of topical CBD presents? Whether you know someone who already enjoys using CBD or who you think could benefit from the products, it’s a special present that they probably won’t get two of!
Finding sustainable stocking fillers is easy, as long as you know where to look! At Wild & Rust, we know that having a few Plan B gifts is a must to get you through the festive season embarrassment-free. There’s nothing worse than receiving a gift and having nothing to give in return! All of these eco-friendly presents will save you from awkwardness, giving you plenty of lovely options that lots of people will love to find under their Christmas tree.
To find more eco-friendly stocking fillers and perfect Plan B’s, take a look at our Christmas range. Full of festivity and with something for every budget, we’ll help you keep everyone happy this festive season.]]>
But, that doesn’t mean it can’t be difficult, too. A lot of people find Christmas to be a very stressful time of year, and even if you love it you may still feel more drained than ever come January. That’s why self-care is vital at this time of year, and if you haven’t practised it before then this is the perfect time to start. Old or young, Christmas-lovers or secret Scrooges, everyone deserves a bit of ‘me’ time this festive season.
Let’s look into why it’s so important and how you can incorporate a little bit of sustainable self-care into your routine this Christmas. Read until the end and you’ll find some brilliant self-care gifts for your loved ones, too!
The festive season isn’t always picture-perfect. It can be the busiest time of the year, with more stress than usual and a lot of socialising. Whether you’re an introvert or not, having day after day of Christmas events is tiring! Add to that a never-ending to-do lists, juggling schedules, negotiating family dynamics of who is visiting who when, present shopping, pre-ordering Christmas food, and decorating your home for an endless stream of guests all whilst trying to keep the magical spirit of Christmas going for those with little ones and, well.. you get the idea.
Winter is also notoriously difficult for mental health in the UK, with 64% of people reporting their conditions worsen at this time of year. Darker days and cold weather along with the pressures of Christmas can lead to you feeling lower than usual. You want to make this time of year perfect and be on top form constantly, but it may simply leave some burnt out and in need of about 365 days off to recover.
If you do sometimes struggle at Christmas, you’re not alone - far from it! One-third of British people report feeling anxious or stressed in the run-up to festivities, which definitely isn’t good. Something needs to be done, and that’s where self-care comes in.
Self-care is all about taking care of - and prioritising - your own wellbeing. It’s about taking the time to do things that make you feel good and relieve feelings of stress and low-moods. When practising self-care, it’s important to remind yourself that you’re taking this time for yourself because you deserve it and because you love you. It’s never a bad thing to give yourself some TLC!
A wealth of benefits have been found from practising self-care, including:
At Christmas, when you might be feeling more stressed and tired than normal, taking time out to look after yourself is essential. Trust us, just give it a go this year and see how much it improves your festive season!
There are hundreds of different ways you can start using self-care to have a less stressful, more joyful Christmas. One of the first ways you can take care of yourself is simply by saying no. Christmas is a time of parties and gatherings, but if you just don’t feel up for going to another meal out or mulled wine evening, it’s okay to skip and have an evening in instead. If you go to everything you’re invited to, regardless of whether you actually want to, you’re on a fast-track to burn out!
Having some evenings - or whole days - for yourself is essential during the busiest season of the year. Take a long, warm bath with our Unwind Body Oil, read the book that’s been on your list for months, or watch TV with a herbal tea. Do something that’s just for you, and just because you want to.
People find all sorts of things that help them feel better, and it’s all about discovering your own rituals. Whether yoga calms you, running makes you happier, having some much needed hygge as a family or nothing is nicer than putting your feet up and doing nothing, find out what makes you feel good and make time for it.
If you’re struggling at Christmas, part of self-care is also about reaching out for support. If you need a shoulder to cry on, find one! If you just want to rant about the stressful day you’ve had, give your friend a call, reach out to a relevant local social media group, pop onto your neighbourhood WhatsApp group. You may find that there are more people around you that can relate than you may be aware. Community matters and especially in the past 18 months, this has become much more prevalent. People care.
Self-care is all about loving and taking care of yourself, and we’ve got plenty of treats to help you do that. Whether you’re looking for self-care Christmas gifts for someone this year or are looking for bits and bobs to make your evenings in cosier, we’ve got plenty to choose from.
Fill your home with lovely scents to make your self-care nights all the more special with our Lavender Diffuser or light up our Seaweed & Samphire Candle for a warm, cosy glow. Run a bath and drop in a CBD Bathbomb for true relaxation, before taking care of your skin with our Fruits of Nature Body Cream.
All of our products are made sustainably and with as little impact on the planet as possible so that your Christmas self-care gifts can be guilt-free.
Don’t let the festive season get on top of you and your merry spirit this year. Our Christmas self-care tips and gifts are perfect for carving out some time for yourself amongst all of the busy shopping trips and family events. Remember, even though it’s Christmas, and we are all guilt-ridden with wanting to give the season to be jolly our very best, you can still say no!
If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas self-care gift for someone you love, take a look at our Mindful Gift Sets. Filled with lots of thoughtful goodies to make every day a self-care day, they’re perfect for slowing down and giving yourself some love. We wish you a relaxed, mindful and sustainable few weeks as you prepare for and brace yourself for the big day. Happy Self Care!
Are you ready to wrap up warm and get cosy? Our winter warmers are here! We’ve picked our top 7 sustainable Christmas goodies to go under your tree and around your home this year. Take a look and start feeling festive!
Christmas is creeping up once again, and now it really is just around the corner! After the turmoil of last year's festive season, we think you'll all agree that this one should be extra special. So, to kickstart your planning (or finish up your stocking fillers, if you're one of the very organised), we've put together some of our top winter warmer picks from our Christmas collection.
These are perfect for all sorts of festivities. Whether you're looking for sustainable Christmas gifts for your friends and family or want to decorate your home completely free of plastic, we've got everything you need. Remember that Christmas is a time for you, too, so if you see anything you like, why not add one more gift under your tree this year? After everything we've been through recently, everyone deserves a little self-care treat.
Have you got anyone waiting for Father Christmas this year? Whether little ones who still believe in real magic or a partner who you'd love to treat to some extra Christmas festivities, these stockings are perfect.
They're hand-crafted from soft, Fairtrade cotton with contrasting black thread in a stylish diamond or chevron pattern. This minimal, cosy style is typical of Scandinavia, bringing some Nordic fashion into your home this Christmas. Add them to your fireplace for a sustainable Christmas decoration that'll last for many years to come.
If you head out to the high street, most of the baubles you'll find these days are made from plastic. Not only is this awful for the planet, and your baubles are likely to end up littering the landfill or sinking in the sea, but it's also not traditional! At Christmases of days gone past, when wooden toys sat beneath real Christmas trees and log fires warmed the rooms, all the baubles on the tree would have been glass.
Now you can get back to the roots of Christmas with these gorgeous Antique Gold Baubles. Handmade in traditional styles, they're ideal for bringing some class and cosiness to your Christmas tree. Crafted carefully from glass and a recycled sari tie, they're also completely sustainable.
Fill up stockings with these Festive Soaps, or use them in your bathroom as part of your Christmas preparations! Scented with warm patchouli and sweet cinnamon, they're a real treat to use at this time of year. Your hands will be left nourished from a blend of moisturising ingredients, including organic shea butter, coconut oil, and cocoa powder (which is great for anti-ageing). You'll also have the peace of mind that these soaps have been handmade in the UK, and are plastic-free and vegan-friendly.
For a more substantial sustainable Christmas present under the tree, take a look at our Mindful Gift Set, which includes cinnamon soap, along with antique recycled baubles and a beautiful vegan candle.
A lot of diffusers and candles are scented with nasty chemicals, but not ours. Our herbal diffusers are fragranced with 100% natural essential oils. If you go back just 150 years, all fragrances used to be made by extracting oils from herbs and flowers, and we've gone back to that. The oils in our herbal diffusers are extracted from herbs grown on a small patch of land in the South Hams in Devon.
This Christmas, try our diffuser in Heavenly to fill your home with sweet orange, cinnamon, and clove. Warm, spicy, and undeniably festive, anyone who steps through your door will instantly feel Christmassy!
Christmas is a time to wind down and treat yourself to some you time. If you're looking for something that'll help you de-stress and find a haven of calm in the busy world, our body and bath oil is perfect. Scented with all-natural geranium, patchouli, and frankincense, it's designed to create feelings of peace - ideal for the festive period!
Add two tablespoons to a bath for true relaxation, or rub directly onto your skin for unbeatable moisturise and bring that sense of calm with you wherever you go. If you know someone who could do with some self-care this Christmas, these oils also make brilliant and thoughtful presents.
If you know someone who's notoriously tricky to buy for, we think these handmade Brass Star Spoons are the answer. Unique and made from Fairtrade materials, they're undoubtedly special and make for a lovely keepsake. For a loved one who adores tea, why not pair these with our Winter Warmer Tea for a gift that's bound to please? Sophisticated and charming, we wouldn’t be unhappy to see these presents under our tree!
It shouldn't come as a surprise that we love sustainable scents at Wild & Rust (how many times have we mentioned them in this blog alone?). So, for our final winter warmer, we had to pick one of our favourite Christmas scents for this year that won't hurt the planet; Spiced Orange and Red Berry. Inspired by all those lovely things that make the festive season special, from soaking your Christmas cake in brandy and making mulled wine to wrapping presents beneath your Christmas tree and watching the first snowfall (hopefully!), it encapsulates the season in a scent.
Try a sustainable diffuser for fragrance around the clock or a sustainable soy wax votive for when you want to get cosy with a candle. Both make marvellous eco-friendly Christmas gifts, too!
The celebration of Fathers Day in the UK did not originate in the UK, but in the USA. Specifically, its origins were in Spokane, Washington, USA in 1910, but it was only in 1972 that it officially became a national holiday by law under US President Nixon.
Unlike Mother’s Day, Father’s Day for us at least tends to be a much quieter low key affair with neither my father nor father in law ever really expecting anything or making a big deal about it, however, since becoming a mother myself and watching my husband come into his own as a father, I have a huge admiration for my own father and the role he has played in my life – even more so than before. Which is why this year we at Wild & Rust want to celebrate and recognise every kind of Dad this Father’s Day on 20th June 2021!
Father’s Day is a wonderful reminder to celebrate every kind of father for the every day little and large things we may expect from our dads without a second thought or sometimes take for granted. The young dads, the old dads, the new dads, the seasoned dads, the single dads. The quiet dads, the strong dads, the great-at-DIY dads, the home-school dads, the cooking from scratch dads (although not my husband!) and the baking dads. The tea party dads, the sporty dads, the adventurous dads, the prefer to stay at home dads, the gaming dads, the ‘taxi’ dads and of course not forgetting the soon to become dads and every kind of dad in between!
For some Father’s Day may not be a celebration as such, but a memory of Dads that may have passed….or never been known. For some this may simply be a day of quiet reflection. For some, Father’s Day serves as a reminder of just how privileged we are to have children and how exceptionally important the role is parents play in their children’s lives, biological or otherwise. Regardless it is a tough job if not the toughest job in the world!
More so than ever the words of Ryan Reynolds on fatherhood rings true in my own experience having watched my husband transition into fatherhood. “Being a father is the single greatest feeling on earth. Not including those wonderful years I spent without a child, of course.” Ha!
Thinking about the amazing Daddy my husband is to our 2 young sons, here are my Top 10 Reasons to celebrate Father’s Day in a big way this year:
Whether he’s Dad, a godfather, grandfather or simply a fatherly figure worth celebrating, to make this Father’s Day a memorable day, we will be spoiling the Dads in our lives this year with these fabulous sustainable and ethical gift ideas for every kind of Dad from Wild & Rust. There’s plenty of inspiration from our Wild & Rust range, with even some ideas from our own dads themselves.
Signature Father’s Day Gift Box Deluxe
Our Signature Father’s Day Gift Box Deluxe includes one of each of the following must haves:
1 x Lime & Ginger Hand & Body Wash
1 x Organic Tincture - Hangover Cleanser
1 x Green Stem CBD Muscle Balm
We recognise that for some this year Father’s Day may not be a happy celebration, and to show our compassion and support for those not able to or wanting to celebrate this Father’s Day, Wild & Rust will (as a small gesture of quiet solidarity) donate 10% to a UK Prostate Cancer Charity for every Wild & Rust Father’s Day Giftbox Deluxe sold up to 20th June 2021.
Or why not spoil Dad with a cuppa in bed on Father’s Day morning with this wonderful Lemon Grass & Ginger Herbal Tea? Lemongrass is renowned for high antioxidant and digestive properties whilst lively and invigorating Ginger adds a lovely warmth and spice.
Lemongrass & Ginger Herbal Tea
For those looking for something a little more practical to gift this Father’s Day, we highly recommend this Hydrating Face Wash to remind Dad of the fresh scent of whipped salty coastal air and childhood memories of walks by the sea.
Natural Hydrating Face Wash & Natural Body Cleanser
Or our gently cleansing and nourishing Body Cleanser, leaving skin moisturised and silky smooth with the benefits of fresh citrus fruit and Coconut oil.
A framed photo is always a lovely touch and our striking and unique Kiki Photo boxes make a truly unique gift idea. Fill it with sentimental little treasures to remind Dad just how much you treasure those special memories with him.
But of course, Father’s Day is not just about the gifts, it is about celebrating relationships, togetherness and sharing precious moments together creating memories. Whether you are planning a meal out or cooking Dad’s favourite breakfast, having a picnic, surprising him with a family day out, a visit to the park for a lovely walk or simply snuggling up to watch Dad’s favourite film together, we hope you are lucky enough to use the day to have some quality family time.
So whatever you may be doing this year, regardless of where you may be and how you plan to celebrate, we hope you use it as a day to celebrate and treat all the great and inspiring Fathers, Dads, Grandfathers, Godfathers and fatherly figures in your life with something special this Father's Day.
Here’s to you Pappa, Dad, Dada, Daddy, Father, Pops, Granddad, Oupa, Godfather and all fatherly figures who inspire and motivate us every day! We love you!
With best Father’s Day wishes,
Bea and the Wild & Rust Team
]]>The Sun is warming, the birds are chirping and tweeting, the bluebells are blooming, and the garden is growing and looking lush. The name ‘May’ is the modern-day English adaption of the Latin word Maius, which has origins going back to the time of the ancient Greeks.
They named the month of May (or Maius) after the Greek goddess of growth. How appropriate that here in the UK May for us marks the start of Spring. This year more so than ever the significant importance of this is reflected in the easing of lockdown restrictions as we hopefully start to come to life again as a nation following a tough and dark pandemic riddled winter.
There are plenty of reasons to love the month of May. It signals the promise of summer, gardens and window sills are bursting with beautiful pops of bright colours, and you can finally start to enjoy al fresco dining and outdoor entertaining with family, friends and loved ones. Whether you are still shielding or venturing out a little further now that Covid restrictions are easing to enjoy the stunning displays of bluebells on woodland walks, there is something for everyone to celebrate in the month of May.
It is about family walks in the woods and making time to just be in the moment. Being kind to ourselves has never felt this good and with the amazing natural and organic bath and body products we are able to source sustainably and responsibly, there has never been a better time to indulge guilt free!
Our Fruits of Nature Vegan friendly range is lovingly made from natural and sustainably sourced ingredients capturing the true essence of nature with its incredibly popular bath and body products. We just love love love the indulgent milky Bluebell bath essence naturally fragranced with delicate English Bluebells and perfectly blended with pure ingredients to cleanse, hydrate and soothe your skin. We adore the pretty blooms suspended in the oil which also makes them a really attractive gift too!
The Bluebell hand cream has been flying off the shelves and we can’t seem to keep up with demand for this rich and luxurious hand cream naturally fragranced and perfectly formulated to soften, nourish and moisturise your hands all day long with a lasting soft scent.
Right now, coming out of lockdown, in the lead-up to summer, as we get ready to face the world more in-person than we have been in a year, we are absolutely focusing on our facial skin too. But no matter what the time of year, skin needs moisture to look its glowiest, feel its silkiest, and function optimally. A balanced nutritious diet, plenty of water, restful sleep, and moving your body are always crucial—and the right selfcare routine can make an enormous difference, too.
To help us look our best, we absolutely love (and it has become a daily go to) Organic CBD Face Serum. We all need one of these luxurious Organic CBD Face Serums in the cupboard #fact. It has been lovingly hand blended using only the finest organic ingredients to nourish, hydrate and help your skin glow. Each bottle contains the full spectrum of cannibioids and is suitable for all skin types. This non-greasy, lightweight serum can be used day and night. What are you waiting for! Layer that serum!
For those looking for something a little more rejuvenating (yes please!), we highly recommend this gorgeous nourishing Wild Sage + Co Argan Beauty Balm. Including the all important Omega 6 and Vitamin E, this balm has been blended with lavender and geranium to balance and heal and works wonders in moisturising, reducing signs of aging and leaves skins feeling soft and supple without clogging pores. Formulated for the face, this balm is great for all skin types, from oily to dry.
Wild Sage + Co Argan Beauty Balm
But of course, May is not just about bluebells and selfcare, it is also about celebrating heroes, and togetherness and as a whole the incredible spirit of us as a people, starting with our wonderful and amazing Nurses on 12th May 2021 when we will be celebrating International Nurses Day. If you plan to treat a nurse in your life or wish to thank the incredible nursing staff who worked tirelessly through and continue to work through the pandemic (and have shattered stereotypes of nursing) with the fundamental role they play in patient safety, then why not say it with a gorgeous Wild & Rust Bluebell Wellbeing Gift Box?
Wild & Rust Bluebell Wellbeing Gift Box
Our Wild & Rust wellbeing gift boxes are the perfect gift for this year for those who deserve some natural indulgence. Each gift box contains natural, heavenly scented bath and body products, all hand made in the UK. And if you are a nurse and wish to treat yourself or a friend, simply show us your Blue Light Discount Card or NHS badge instore and receive 10% Off your Wild & Rust Bluebell Wellbeing Gift Box.
Personally, having become a mother in 2019, May brings with it more reason to celebrate. This year we will also be celebrating International Day of Families on 15th May 2021. How appropriate that is should fall in May when the meaning of Bluebell flowers are thought to in general be understood to symbolize gratitude, humility, everlasting love, and constancy. Perfect sentiment reflected in such a small beautiful and delicate flower, so what better way for us to celebrate our little family than by spending as much time together walking and exploring all the beautiful bluebell trails and woodland walks around Oxfordshire.
Here is a few of our favourite Bluebell walks:
Whatever you plan to do or celebrate this May, may you also take a moment to simply be in the moment and be kind to yourself. Most important of all we wish you a very happy and joyful month of celebrating all things (big or small) beautiful to you in your life.
The Wild & Rust Team
]]>For us at Wild & Rust, creating the perfect sanctuary at home is all about creating a space that allows you to simply be in a feel-good space that is comfortable, calming, mood enhancing and of course beautiful to look at! You do not need big budgets to create a mood boosting rest and recreation space at home, all you need is a little vision, a good balance between space and structure and a well edited selection of beautiful space enhancing, mood boosting gorgeous spring green house plants in responsibly sourced ethically made plant pots, baskets and terrariums from the Wild & Rust Plant Shop.
The success and secret to creating a space that is both aesthetically pleasing and mood enhancing i.e. your own personal sanctuary, lies in activating all the senses we experience when in nature. Nothing brings us more joy with its invigorating all-round wellbeing enhancing properties than a gorgeous range of indoor house plants strategically placed throughout the home or workspace to bring the healing powers of nature indoors.
Indoor Plants - Structure & Form:
Plants like Aloe Vera used as an ingredient do not only provide us with healing medicinal remedies, but strategically placed in a specific room can really help to balance the form and structure of a space.
The Fiddle Leaf Fig Lollipop, a favourite or ours, with its large rounded leaves have made a stellar comeback with its minimalist elegance, adding a softer touch to make any space feel calm and relaxing.
For a bolder statement, the Alocasia, also known as elephant’s ear, has large beautifully patterned leaves and can turn any corner or the home into a showstopper with its majestic presence. We especially love the tiger stripe stem variety and often proudly display one in our Henley-on-Thames Wild & Rust store window – it is a real eye catcher which also purifies the air and tells you when it has had enough to drink. What’s not to love? Take a look at our Alocasia Amazonica 'Polly' available instore now.
Indoor Plants - Cleansing and Purifying:For many of us, taking a deep steady breath or practising steady breathing techniques form a large part of our daily exercise routines, or simply taking a moment to be mindful. What better reason to have air purifying and enhancing living breathing plants around you to filter and cleanse the air?
We love the Calathea 'Medallion' collection, a powerful air purifier variety, which has light and dark green patterns on the tops of the leaves and a mysterious deep purple underside with the leaves opening and closing at dawn and dusk. These do well in medium to bright indirect filtered light but note their delicate leaves will scorch in direct sunlight.
The Sansevieria ‘Snake Plant’ is a great one for the bedroom as they are troopers for storing up Oxygen during the day and then releasing it at night. Others include the Ivy and Boston Fern or Nephrolepis which is a perfect plant for popping in the bathroom as it thrives in more humid environments whilst working hard to purify the air.
Indoor Plants - Restore and Revive:For some well-earned R&R time, the fascinating String of Pearls, although a succulent that thrives in dry air, makes a great choice for an indoor plant. Paired with a beautiful handmade aluminium hanging planter, these little beauties are versatile, requires very little maintenance and can instantly add a low cost, high impact point of focus to revive any room into a restorative and relaxing space to help you recharge.
Indoor Plant - Calming:
Plants that help you relax. Creating a leafy sanctuary in your home can really lift and enhance your mood, come rain or shine. Adding layers and dimension by showing off plants on stools and using macramé hanging planters, baskets, handmade ceramic and cement pots mixed with one off vintage finds instantly creates an interesting and versatile space that awakens the senses and brings a sense of calm. A space to just be. Great choices include: The Rubber Plant (We love!), palms, the Calathea Rattle Snake and the very cute Chinese Money Plant. These are all easy to care for, versatile choices sure to add a touch of Spring green to your space.
To create and maintain your sanctuary at home, it is important to consider the spaces, what shapes and sizes will make the most of enhancing your rooms / workspace, consider the robustness and suitability of the plants to thrive indoors in different conditions with varying levels of light.
Based on over 20 years of experience we have pulled together for you a selection of our recommended easy growing indoor houseplants, perfect for gardeners of any skill level – all available to order or buy instore form Wild & Rust.
Our Top 10 are:
Calathea: A beautiful tropical plant, the Calathea will lift the look of any room with its spectacular foliage. Keep the soil moist but not overwatered and move away from direct sunlight. Perfect for a little nook that needs brightening with a pop of colour!
Snake Plant: This vigorous yet chic member of the Sansevieriaspecies thrives in low light and dry air.
Fiddle Leaf Fig: A tall, stylish plant with broad leaves, fiddle-leaf figs thrive indoors in bright light environments.
Pineapple Plant: These quirky fruit plants are a great conversation starter, yes - that is how they grow! Although you probably wouldn't want to consume this bitter little fruit. These tropical plants prefer well lit areas but away from direct sunshine.
Banana Plant: Our Banana Plant adds an instant exotic touch of tropical to your home. Made popular by their bold paddle-shaped leaves, these plants are perfect for beginners and are easy to grow. These little guys will sit happily in a bright sun-filled spot. Although this variety will produce lovely bananas in the wild unfortunately it is unlikely it will bear fruit in your home, sorry! When new growth appears leaves will emerge from the centre and slowly unfurl with great effect. This plant is also great for cleaning the air in your home, what is not to love about this handsome chap?
Indoor Plants – how to care for them
Most houseplants are relatively easy to care for once you understand their basic requirements and at Wild & Rust, we choose only the highest grading of plants purposely selected to be low maintenance but high reward and enjoyment factor. To support you in maintaining and looking after your indoor houseplants with which you have created your sanctuary, here are W&R Top Tips to consider when caring for your green beauties:
Whatever you choose to create your sanctuary at home and however you decide to use plants to create or enhance the space, we hope that you find the same joy and mood boosting benefits the Team at Wild & Rust enjoy in helping you to create beautiful spaces by bringing the outdoors indoors.
May our green beauties continue to thrive and bring us many years of pure joy!
Happy Spring (Greens)!
Bea and the Wild & Rust Team
]]>Easter Wellbeing Pamper Gifts and Back to Nature as we come out of Covid Lockdown. As we bid farewell to the cold dark nights of a lockdown winter, we look forward with hope, excitement and a promise of happier days to come.
]]>As we bid farewell to the cold dark nights of a lockdown winter, we look forward with hope, excitement and a promise of happier days to come. Optimism and joy are in the air with a sense that, after a year of uncertainty, we may soon be reunited with our loved ones, to create new memories of shared experiences to cherish that previously we may have perhaps without intention, have taken for granted.
Over the past year, as we lived through unprecedented periods of lockdown as a nation, many of us have returned to nature and the joys and benefits of exercise in the great outdoors, meeting a friend or a family member for a safe socially distanced walk in a park, a stroll around the neighbourhood or for those lucky enough, a country walk, all of which serves to provide comfort, time for reflection, exercise and or to simply just spend a mindful moment with ourselves to gather our thoughts or gain clarity.
Nature and the great outdoors have for most of us provided a much needed opportunity of respite and rejuvenation during lockdown as individuals, businesses, key workers, communities and neighbourhoods across the country worked together in unison to fight an incredible fight against Covid-19.
And although we have not yet fully navigated our way through this pandemic, we are certainly starting to see the green shoots of progress in perhaps returning to a new and improved normal.
Most of us feel joy when we spend time in nature and finding little ways to bring the feeling of nature indoors has become for us at Wild & Rust a critical part of our everyday. Happiness and joy do not just need to be defined by big events or materialistic objects but can simply be an ordinary moment within the day made extraordinary because of a conscious choice we make to enjoy it.
As a Team at Wild & Rust we are all about promoting the little ways to bring the feeling of nature and stillness into our daily wellbeing routines with carefully selected organic and natural wellbeing products that do just that, they make us happy and joyful!
So, over the Easter weekend amidst the cooking and easter egg hunting and hot cross bun baking, we at Wild & Rust plan to make the most of just being in the moment, finding joy in simply being at home with our families for those of us lucky enough to have loved ones to spend it with and simply enjoy a little well deserved pamper time. Yes, it will be all about finding a moment to ourselves, a little ‘me time’.
This Easter, why not enjoy a lovely destressing soak in the bath with a beautiful fragrant floral and French clay handmade vegan soap and lie back to enjoy the wonderful benefits of a purifying and replenishing Rose Clay face mask. Relax and enjoy a moment to yourself with an organic hand crafted Beauty Tea Infusion. Don’t forget the all-important hands that work so hard. Show them a little love with one of our carefully selected Vetiver and Lavender Hand creams.
Easter 2021 make it all about being kind to you. Or why not make it that little bit more special and treat a friend or a loved one and encourage them to be kind to themselves too.
Here you will find our list of Easter Pamper organic and natural wellbeing and skincare must haves from Wild & Rust, responsibly sourced, ethically made and very carefully selected with thoughtfulness to help bring a little joy to your day:
Soak away those troubles - Relieve stress & relax with this freshly made bath soak - a blend of pure natural aromatherapy oils to balance, ground & soothe.
A Vegan Cleanse for Every Type of Skin - Cleanse and rejuvenate your skin with this handmade floral soap bar with purifying French Clay.
Rejuvenate with a Clay Mask - This purifying and replenishing Rose Clay face mask is formulated to cleanse and moisturise, using only the most natural of ingredients.
Who is the fairest of them all...? - Beauty inside and out with a blend of organic wild crafted delicious herbs to nourish and feel calm.
Moisturise and Sooth - Layer this light and fast absorbing non-greasy Plum & Ashby Vetiver and Lavender hand cream onto hands to leave skin hydrated and nourished with a lasting deep musky fragrance. Be kind to those little digits.
Happy Easter from Wild & Rust
We wish you and your families the very best of a safe, quiet and relaxing Easter 2021 and look forward to being able to start the final countdown to that moment on Monday 12th April 2021 at 10:00am when we will once again be able to welcome our lovely customers, loyal and new, to our Henley-on-Thames store in line with government guidelines. We are working hard in the background to get ready to throw open our doors! We can’t wait!
In the meantime, as many of us will start to rebuild, reflect and review our next steps slowly coming out of lockdown, adjusting to life as it transitions over the next 12 months, don’t forget to make time to create memories that will last a lifetime but most importantly, find a little joy in the everyday.
Here’s to some very well deserved pampering this Easter and being kind to YOU!
See you soon!
With warmest Easter wishes,
Bea & the Wild & Rust Team
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I adore and love my mother, who I very much take after, both with her purposeful walk and larger than life love for her children and since becoming a mother of twin boys myself, I now understand there is something incredibly beautiful and poignant in the way that we single out mothers once a year on Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day is a moment in time to truly reflect both on what it means to be a mother (for those who are) and to take stock of just how much our own mothers mean to us. What a privilege and an honour to be able to celebrate these inspiring women who, like my mother and her mother before her, were absolute trailblazers at being entrepreneurs, creators, financially independent, influencers, home makers, farmers and trend setters all whilst giving the absolute best of themselves to make us into the very best versions of ourselves.
My own mother is so proud of how Wild & Rust has grown and the sustainable and ethical approach to gifting. Here are a few of her favourites!
Fruits of Nature Bluebell Bath Essence – Enjoy a spa experience in your home, pure relaxation where you can switch off and dream amongst the natural fragrance of English Bluebells.
Fruits of Nature Rose Hand Cream – Our most populate go to luxurious, long lasting moisturiser with the natural fragrance of Roses.
Wild & Rust’s Botanical No 1 Diffuser – Wow, we have been balled over by the wonderful feedback for our own brand. We have poured our research, knowledge and love into this brand and my mother absolutely loves this!
Wild & Rust Botanical No 1 Candle – if you are more of a candle lover, then our vegan candles are perfect for you. The longevity, the subtle essence and the pure ambience is delightful.
When I held my newborn twin sons for the very first time 18 months ago, cuddling them on my chest as they wheeled us out of theatre, I gazed into their beautiful blue eyes (totally biased of course!) and knew at that very moment that I would instantly and unequivocally die to protect them.
Until that moment I had never truly appreciated the ferocity of a mother’s love and although I have at times seen the intensity with which my mother loves me and my younger sister, becoming a mother was a revelation that has changed my perspective on life in a plethora of ways. In particularly it has changed the way I view all the incredible women in my life past and present who are mothering (or have mothered) biological, adopted and foster children of all ages, across cultures and faiths, across continents and in different languages, the one collective factor that cannot be defined by any of our differences is the way in which we all tirelessly make sacrifices and devote ourselves to being the very best mothers we can be, regardless of the odds.
I for one am incredibly privileged to have a lot of inspiring and strong mother role models who have shaped my own approach to motherhood, something that I hope my sons will one day appreciate and recognise as having had a positive impact on their perspective and experience of life (and if they are lucky enough fatherhood one day).
Although sometimes it is hard to capture in words just how much we appreciate and love our mothers, this year I will be recognising all the amazing mothers I know with some stunning hand selected sustainable and ethically sourced gifts from the Wild & Rust Wellbeing Collection.
As my twin sons are growing and developing, alongside the demands of my professional interests, charitable work and running my own business, I have come to very much appreciate the calming effect of a gorgeous W&R Botanical room diffuser or scented candle, the healing power of a good fragranced soak in the bath, a soothing hand cream (who also washes their hands about 100 times a day?!) or a simple moment to myself sipping a delicate blend of chamomile & lavender hand picked herbal tea.
As our mothers deserve the very best, these are the kind of gifts I plan to give to all the wonderful women who are mothers, have been mothers, are becoming mothers and those who never became mothers themselves but generally selflessly devote themselves to being the absolute best they can be by giving the very best of themselves.
Although there is a list of great influencers and famous mothers from the past like Marie Curie and present like Michelle Obama who have made stunning and measurable contributions to society, it is the lockdown mothers of 20/21 that have quietly and tirelessly (without recognition or payment or world fame) performed such a critical role in maintaining their children’s education, emotional and physical well-being when they themselves have at times struggled to maintain their own high spirited motivation, that has been truly inspiring.
They are the mothers I will be celebrating this year on Sunday 14th March 2021.
The everyday Mum raising the future leaders, influencers, entrepreneurs and role models of the future teaching at the kitchen table during lockdown with her head shoved in the cupboard stuffing chocolate!
This year more so than ever we celebrate our mothers on the frontline, who are nurses, doctors, surgeons, hospital support staff or care workers holding the hands of the dying, our mothers working tirelessly to educate the children of key workers fighting Covid-19; mothers putting themselves at risk to support others in their time of need; the mothers leading the science to develop vaccines; the mothers driving policy and governance for a fair and just world; and the mothers walking the beat to keep the streets safe.
Before I forget, we are so thrilled to have partnered with Blue Light Card and we offer a discount to any of the front line workers who are part of that wonderful scheme. Log onto the Blue Light Discount Portal and redeem your Wild & Rust Offer today.
We tend to take schooling for our children for granted, but never have so many mothers been juggling home schooling their children of all ages whilst, cooking, cleaning and Zooming around the clock because they also work fulltime!
How about the mothers doing a food shop or pharmacy run for a neighbour in isolation; the mothers checking in on mothers; the mothers running small and large businesses of all kinds keeping local and national economies thriving; and last but not least the mothers that at a drop of a hat, no matter what time of day or night it is, (thank you Mamma) are always ready to crawl around on the floor making animal sounds, rolling down the hill on a sunny day, make mud cakes in the rain or have a picnic on the kitchen floor for breakfast.
Those are the most treasured of memories of my mother from my own childhood and I hope that one day my sons will be reminded of things similar when they reflect of the kind of mother I am to them.
Who can state it more eloquently than the late great Maya Angelou herself who said,
‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’
Thank you, Mamma.
This Mother’s Day let it be all about spoiling and sharing gorgeous sustainable and ethically sourced gifts (because they deserve the finest!) to show our mothers just how much we appreciate who we are as shaped by them and their unconditional love.
From one mother to another, here’s to the everyday mother doing remarkable things.
Being kind to yourself and our environment is at the heart of Wild & Rust’s approach to sustainable retail. We would like to invite you on our sustainable journey working towards a mindful shopping experience as we learn to make better choices about how we buy, consume and dispose. Driven by a passion to make a small difference that will one day drive a bigger change, the Team at Wild and Rust are continuously looking for new ways to make small daily positive changes on our sustainable journey.
Our green credentials although limited in impact on a global scale does not lack in heartfelt and sincere effort on a local and personal basis. We are by no means green gurus and you won’t find us hugging trees (but if the urge grabs you – no judgement here) or foraging for tonight’s dinner in the woods, but when it comes to sincere efforts in making smarter environmentally friendly and kinder decisions, our efforts are definitely ‘Greta’ like.
Big change starts with a small first step and so here we share with you a few basic sustainability top tips we hope will over time make a wider positive difference:
What little difference can you make to drive big change?
#BeKind #ShopSmart
With warmest wishes
The Wild & Rust Team
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When faced with unprecedented challenge, we as a people miraculously overcome adversity by being brave, innovative and exceptionally creative.
We would like to recognise the local retail heroes of our little town here in Henley-on-Thames, who despite being faced with significant challenge to maintain their livelihoods during the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic have showed true survival spirit in how they adapted overnight to offer revised propositions to stay afloat.
We commend their resilience and creativity and for this reason my family and I committed to doing as much of our food purchasing from local small business owners and producers during the 2020 Lockdown so as to ensure we keep our local community thriving as well as reduce the impact that unnecessary supply chain handling/transport has on our environment. We are by no means perfectly green, but we are actively trying to make better choices on a daily basis which we hope will add up to a bigger impact over time.
I would like to recognise and give a huge and heartfelt BIG MASSIVE THANK YOU to:
Charlotte Sutton from Time For Tea Vintage for the deliciously fresh Vegetable & Fruit Boxes. The absolutely stunning Birthday Cakes freshly baked and delivered on my behalf to surprise 2 special birthday ladies and of course, the celebratory special VE Day 75th Year Afternoon Tea Box that we enjoyed during the social distancing picnic during on our front lawn with our neighbours celebrating and remembering those who sacrificed so much for us www.timeforteavintage.co.uk
A round of applause to English Farm for the organic meat box which included a fantastic selection of the most succulent ribeye steaks, quarter pounder burgers and one of my go to stew comforts, oxtail. It does not get fresher than picking your meat up from the farm www.englishfarm.net
The freshly baked bread, baguettes and iced donuts (yum) from Lawlor’s The Bakers – those donuts are seriously delicious! www.facebook.com/Lawlors-The-Bakers
Thank you, Hurley House Hotel for seamless app based ordering and 100% contact free collection of their stunning freshly made Sushi! Who would have thought we’d find this little gem only a stone throw away from home? www.hurleyhouse.co.uk
Alice at For Small Hands – Thank you for the fantastic baking boxes delivered to all the little people in our lives – they loved it and we loved their creations. It gave Mums a planned activity for the day and a nice break from home schooling.
Thank you Charlotte from SaveThymeCooking – delicious cooked meals (and amazing chocolate brownies) delivered straight to our door. As a busy twin mum, having a cooked and prepared meal made with fresh ingredients from scratch delivered straight to the door ready to go in the oven is simply a treat! www.savethymecooking.com/
Who knew we had a local creamery?!? A very well deserved nod to Nettlebed Creamery for the stunning award winning cheeses – we just couldn’t get enough of the fantastic Bix! Buy Direct: www.nettlebedcreamery.com
Last but not least, Purple Foot Wines – thank you for the great selection of wines to pair with our Lockdown dinners (and the odd lunch) Delivered straight to our door – without which I am a little ashamed to say, no meal would have been complete. Don’t judge me, join me! www.purplefoot.co.uk/
If Coronavirus has taught me anything it is that we can change, adapt and innovate at lightning speed and that where there is a will, there is always a way. I have also learned that convenience does not always mean fast or mass produced! In our case, hopefully it will be a new sustainable way of buying as much as we possibly can locally from independent producers and suppliers to support our wonderful and innovative local farmers, entrepreneurs and small businesses working tirelessly to serve the great people of Henley.
#CommunityMatters #BeKind #ShopLocal #lovelocal
Warmest wishes
The Wild & Rust Team
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Whilst brain storming over coffee, wine, chocolate (anything we can get our hands on) during lengthy phone calls and joyful chat over the phone the National flower of South Africa drops in to conversation. A bold handsome flower which stands proudly for Hope & Change.
My dear friend and new business partner (who was born in South Africa) and I are not allowed a normal business meet up face to face because we are studiously observing social distancing and all that Covid-19 has brought to our busy lives. But this unprecedented beast can not stop the wheels of industry, not for two creative and passionate mumpreneurs such as ourselves. Although with 8 month old twin boys and a pair of very chatty little ladies under 5 years old between us, that is possibly the big challenge. However we power on, each with our different skill sets (including fierce multi tasking) that will come together harmoniously to hatch this great sustainable business plan of ours.
Amidst uncertainty can come great things when you have hope and want to make a change. So here we are, full of excitement and a creative vision, ready to run as soon with an abundance of gorgeous sustainable items to show you, as soon as the time is right or when Boris says GO!
Please stay in touch, sign up or follow our sustainable journey on our social media to stay up to date and watch our business grow.
We look forward to meeting you soon!
The Wild & Rust Team
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