Ethical Umbrella

17/11/2025

It's been a while hasn't it?

Thought I'd show my face, well 12 of them to be precise and I wasn't imitating the Scottish Widow advert I was just protecting my hair from a frizz attack and snuck in a few selfies, as you do!

Anyway, a few little updates from me....

Since closing Eva's World, my eco friendly retail business, in 2022, I've been supporting other businesses as an independent Business Development Specialist.

It's really allowed me to use my 20 years in business to support other businesses to reach their goals.

Whether that be marketing, sales, business planning, launching new products, strategic development, processes, visibility, staff planning, events, carbon reduction plans, blogging, bid writing support and more!

It's a role I absolutely love and thrive in.

I have plans for the new year with a couple of projects on the go (more on those to come).

For now, here I am, showing up and saying hello.

Christina, Business Development Specialist.

19/08/2025

When you totally resonate with a post!

Anyone else?

Christina

Eleanor:
You don't KNOW that my new friends are Neurodivergent! You can't just diagnose people after an hour.

Me:
An hour? It took me way less than an hour. 😉

Eleanor:
You think EVERYBODY we hang with is ND.

Me:
Kid A is extremely blunt, often fidgety, and caffeine makes them chill out.

They are in gifted classes because their mom says they began reading at 10 months old. And.....

Eleanor:
And WHAT?!

Me:
They don't like the foods on their plate to touch.

Eleanor:
That's just one kid.

Me:
Kid B keeps joining in my stimming. If I sing something, they repeat the last few words.

They also have a blinking tic and I accidentally figured out how to trigger it. Look at them and do a hard blink with both eyes. They will respond with SEVERAL hard, double blinks.

And....they showed me how bendy their joints are. Did you see how far they can bend their elbows?


Eleanor:
But.....

Me:
Kid C is carrying her favorite rocks in her purse. She showed me a quartz point and a bumpy rock, shaped like a small pickle.

She always has headphones around her neck, and she didn't join you in Bath and Body Works because she finds the smells overwhelming.

She is wearing dinosaur pants, a dinosaur shirt, and dinosaur socks...and she keeps absent-mindedly doing T-Rex arms.

Eleanor:
Isn't it weird though, that we keep making friends with people and they turn out to be ND?

Me:
Not really. Part of the joy of living unmasked is that other people can now FIND US. We give off such an ND vibe that it draws other Neurodivergents, close to us

Eleanor:
Well...that's good.

Me:
I agree. The more, the merrier!

03/07/2025

The world is a bit noisy and negative for me right now.

As an empath and someone who has to really protect their energy levels I’ve had to put strategies in place to stay grounded, positive and happy.

Now don’t get me wrong I still feel a great sadness about the division, lack of humanity, lack of understanding and empathy and sheer negativity that I feel humming all around us.

But I’m fighting back.

Not by fighting but by being me. Being positive and spreading happiness and joy in any way possible.

Helping someone with their shopping trolley onto a bus.
Smiling and saying good morning to strangers.
Picking up litter.
Holding the door for someone.
Buying a meal for a homeless person.

Little things that I hope will ripple out into the world and maybe just maybe make a difference.

I’ve been to two funerals this year of two people who meant a lot to me and the world is a lesser place without them in it.

When life is so precious I don’t understand why we’re not just being kinder to each other.

In a sea of negativity I know I’m only a little pebble making tiny ripples but I know a lot of you feel the same and as tiny pebbles together we can make a difference.

Thanks for reading my ramblings if you got this far.

*photo is of how I started my day with journaling, a cuppa, melon and a meditation too all in the sun whilst feeling very grateful for my life.

04/04/2025

Oh how my life is exciting sometimes 😉

I saw a new way of folding socks on a programme earlier and had to give it a go.

Love a good before and after and helps when the before is such a mess 😂

How is your Friday evening going? Anything as exciting as mine?

19/09/2024

For those of you who run your own business or work for someone else:

I attended a Net Zero event this week with Plymouth Charter and Climate Connections and it's really got me thinking.

Out of interest does your business or the business you work for have a sustainability policy?

Are the staff aware of it, is it embedded into the business culture?

Are you working towards Net Zero as a company or is it not on your radar?

Or maybe you just don't know where to start?

We discussed where people are on their journey.

Would love your thoughts, where are you on the journey?

Also, shouldn't have to say it but absolutely no judgement from me, I'm here to support not judge.

01/09/2024

Are you a small business owner?

Do you feel overwhelmed and are always trying to catch up?

Is your business running you instead of the other way round?

I’ve been supporting businesses with taking control, identifying ways to make life a bit easier, finding a balance and allowing small business owners like you to start running their businesses again.

If you’re a small business owner and feel like
you would benefit from gaining more control of your business please message me or email me

[email protected]

1-2-1 and group support options are available.

*marketing, business growth, sales and social media management & training also available.

04/08/2024

Fancy clearing some of your children’s preloved clothing? Many ethical brands listed but others welcome too as buying preloved is much better for the planet!

All in our group, come and join.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ethicalumbrella/permalink/3342252972736428/

03/07/2024

One thing I have always loved about us humans is that we are all so different and everyone has their own little quirks.

I have quite a few of them and over the years have started embracing and loving them more.

One thing that makes me very happy is writing with a pen on real paper, ironic as I sit here typing this I know!

When I write on paper it has to be with one of these pens, a selection of colours if I ever want to underline or doodle in a different colour but my colour of choice to write in is always RED.

My notebooks are full of red writing beautifully adorned with squiggles, arrows, dots and other expressions of my thoughts.

Now I know writing with specific pens and with a specific colour isn't revolutionary but it's one of my quirks and it makes me happy so I thought I'd share and see if you have anything like this that makes you happy too?

It's the simple things as they say....

02/07/2024

When I decided to close my business at the end of 2022 I felt lost and struggled to work out who I was going to be without the identity of my business behind me.

I knew I wanted less stress, to work less hours with less commitment and I knew I wanted to help people.

Starting off with running social media for a few clients to now supporting multiple clients with their business growth, sales and marketing strategies I am absolutely in my element.

I have so many skills gained from life and business that quite frankly it would've been rude of me not to share them and help others right?

Christina

So here I am, doing what I love because I chose to make a huge change in my life by closing a business that had been part of my life for over 12 years.

Yes it was terrifying to make the change and no it hasn't been a smooth ride but my word it was worth it to be where I am now.

Are you doing something you enjoy? And if not, maybe it's time for change?