It's definitely The Season: I had my first Gluhwein this weekend at the South Bank Christmas Market. It got me thinking about the sort of smells that make you feel festive. We all have a song that, when we hear it, immediately makes us feel like Christmas is coming, but what are the scents that make us feel the same way? I asked The Internet, and got some wonderfully aromatic responses. So here are our favourite Comforting Christmas … [Read more...]
{Guest Post} 5 Fabulous Loo Roll Crafts from Red Ted Art
Today I have the fabulous Maggy Woodley popping by to share some great crafting ideas for you ahead of the Christmas period. Maggy is a madly successful craft blogger who loves crafting, especially with recycled, natural and otherwise 'free' materials. She is also the driving force behind a popular series of Crafty Hangouts on G+ that are causing me sleepless nights trying to come up with new and creative ideas on a theme. If you want to know … [Read more...]
Coffee Gift for Teachers
I posted a picture on Instagram of a Coffee Gift for Teachers at the end of the summer term which got a lot of comments and reshares. With Christmas and the end of term coming I have noticed a few chat threads relating to Teacher's Gifts so I wanted to share this with you as it is a really simple, yet thoughtful gift that anyone can put together. Best of all, it's inexpensive and would work for friends, family or as a Secret Santa- any … [Read more...]
Prawn and Chorizo Gnocchi
I didn't really have the courage to cook gnocchi until I saw Nigella do it. She empowered me to embrace gnocchi and it's my Go To Dinner-in-a-Flash supper these days: it takes moments in the boiling water to be ready so you really can be eating supper fifteen minutes after you start cooking. To make Prawn and Chorizo Gnocchi, you need: 1 red onion 2 courgettes 1 packet cooked prawns- ours were large prawns, about 250g 1 … [Read more...]
Apple and Date Streusel Muffins
Just before half-term we went on a walk down the lane on a sunny Sunday morning and came across a bumper crop of windfall apples (and chestnuts!), which we put in our Foraging Basket to bring home for tea. They were cooking apples, so not much use raw, but DH and The Girls set to work peeling, chopping and coring and we used them to make apple crumble for our supper. The Girls love crumble, especially with custard, so we have it quite … [Read more...]
Gifts in Jars: easy homemade gift ideas.
There are always jars in our home: we get through a lot of jam, pickle and chutney and though I make a lot of these things too, to refill them, I always have a few jars lying around without purpose. This time of year, my mind drifts towards Christmas and Gift Giving. It's nice to have a few gifts ready made 'just in case' and the humble jar is the perfect tool to have in your arsenal. Some things I often give as Gifts in a Jar are: Chocolate … [Read more...]
Fingerprint Poppy Craft
Sometimes simple ideas are the best. I was putting together a post on Remembrance Day Crafts at the weekend, when Dimples looked over my shoulder. She asked if she could make a poppy from 'dots', which I discovered meant our Bingo Dabbers, which have lain unused since we moved. So I got them out and she dabbed plenty of little flowers from 'dots'. Whilst my back was turned she, of course, covered her hands in red bingo dabber. … [Read more...]
