These sweet little espresso cups from the breakfast collection by Nina+Co are the latest addition to my ceramics collection. Made in collaboration with The Ceramicists they are small scale batch produced and are so petite that they also double up as egg cups!
Although we've had an incredibly mild winter this year the temperatures have dipped a little lately and the colder weather always takes its toll on my skin. I've been testing out some new hand and body balms from the Version Originale range by Compagnie de Provence. The fragrances are so lovely that I've become slightly obsessed with applying the hand balm just so that I can inhale a delicate waft of it while I'm sat at my desk! Enriched with organic olive oil it's nourishing and non greasy and there are three captivating fragrances to choose from - Black Jasmine, Incense Lavender and Anise Patchouli, which combines the sensuality of Patchouli with the fresher notes of Anise and is the one I seem to have developed something of an addiction to. The range also includes soaps and 100% vegetable wax scented candles.
February is always a month when a short break in the countryside seems particularly appealing. Yes, the weather can be unpredictable, but there's nothing quite like the welcome of a cosy country inn with good food and roaring log fires at this time of year. And of course you get to avoid the crowds that often flock to the more scenic parts of the UK during the warmer summer months.
It's been some years since I last stayed in the Lake District, so last week we packed our walking boots, some precautionary wet weather gear and the whippet into the back of the car and headed north to Cumbria.
The Eltermere Inn is located in the pretty village of Elterwater in the Langdale Valley, one of the most beautiful parts of the Lake District and a haven for walkers, as well as those in search of somewhere scenic to stay for a romantic short break. We arrived early and were blessed with fine weather, so there was plenty of time for an easy low level jaunt around the lake before checking in. The hotel is surrounded by some of the finest walking country in the Lake District and there are excellent clearly signposted, well drained routes all around Elterwater. For those who prefer something a little more challenging then the Langdale Pikes are quite literally right on your doorstep.
It really is almost Spring now isn't it? The weather has been so unseasonably mild this year that the bulbs have been poking their heads up here for a few weeks now, and there is even blossom on the trees. One of the projects on my to-do list this Spring is tackling our utility room - of all the rooms in our house it is definitely the most neglected.
The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, but with the unveiling of their latest kitchen appliance, launched at CES in Las Vegas earlier this month, Samsung are seeking to position the refrigerator as the hub of the home. The new Samsung Family Hub is a fridge that is much more than just a fridge. It's basically a food management system, a family communication tool and an entertainment hub too.
