Natural History's blog

Cosy Hotties

Hi guys, hope you are all enjoying the holiday season? What have you been up to? I'm pleased to say that mine has mostly been spent sitting on the couch in my PJ's and watching TV, and so has been a great success! However, today I found something that would make the rest of my holiday couch-dwelling much better: a lambswool hottie to keep me extra toasty! These cute hand-crafted hot water bottle covers are from Papa Stour, an on-line boutique championing the very best in Scottish contemporary craft and design.

And don't they look cosy? I need one NOW! They come in a variety of colours, patterns and fabrics so check out the Papa Stour website to pick out your fave.

Hope you all have a lovely New Year! -Laura.

{Images: Papa Stour}

The New Champagne

Source: Dream A Little Dream

Champagne season is in full swing right now - basically I love champagne. There I said it. I think its great, my wallet does not. But we figure it out sometimes (like by knowing other people that don't mind buying it too!). Sometimes though you just need to add a little something to champagne to give it a new twist... Champagne, reinvented for the New Year! 

Happy New Year! 

Pomegranate Champagne. You almost feel healthy consuming this one.

Recipe: Martha Stewart

Sweet Paul always has all the good ideas!

Recipe: Sweet Paul

Elderflower infused

Recipe: Zested

Berry infused. Again almost healthy right?

Recipe: Just A Taste

Enjoy and be safe!

Meagan from The Row House Nest

Three of the best – take the bus

Along with the red pillar box and red phone box, the red London bus is quintessentially British and lends itself well to all manner of objects. Here's some of my favourites.

Wallpaper
Lizzie Allen's Red Buses & Black Cabs is hand screen printed and would make for a lovely feature wall.
Find out more here

Cushion
This knitted lambswool cushion by Sally Nencini is apparently inspired by the view from Sally's own window – a comfy cushion for your favourite chair.
Buy it here

Poster
Put this on your wall and you'll smile each time you look at it. By Japanese artist Takashi Furuya.
Want it? Get it here.

Too pretty for the dishes

Tea towels these days are becoming more than just something to dry the dishes. They are now like little works of art that can really add to the decor of the kitchen. So this week I've rounded up some of the best ones available to buy at the minute. Remember to stock up as that pile of Christmas posts will not dry themselves! Here are some bright pieces to add a splash of colour.

From top: Red Daisy, Lisa Stickley; Raspberries, To Dry For; Home Made Bakery, H&M; Pink Marigold, Lisa Stickley.

From top: Pine Cones, H&M; Cabbage, Thornback & Peel; Brew, To Dry For; Birds, Emma Bridgewater.

Or if you prefer the monochrome look try these...

From top: Pig, HAM; Birds, To Dry For; Beetle, Natural History; Cutlery, To Dry For.

Some of these are just too pretty for dirty pots though and would look lovely framed. -Laura.

Super Foods & Drinks

At this crazy time of the year you sometimes just need a QUICK fix, something that will get you through the day or next few hours - that little something something that will give your blood sugar and energy levels a boost... Prepare to be healthy!

THE morning shake to keep you running all morning

Recipe: Sing For Your Supper Blog

Coconut granola bars... Make them ahead and keep them handy for emergencies

Recipe: New York Times

This time of the year means awesome clementines...Fast and delicious and packed full of vitamin C punch

Source: unknown.

And completely different but equally delicious, not quite so quick though

Pears with goat cheese and cranberries

Image: Waterproof Valentines

A quick handful of these will keep ya going

Image: Women's Health

And how long would this take to put together? Like 2 minutes max.

Image: La Maison d'Anna G

 

Ciao! 

Meagan from The Row House Nest

Merry Christmas everyone!

Just a short post this week, dear readers. I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and to say thank you for reading my posts each week.

Here's a selection of my favourite photographs from the year. Here's hoping that next year, I'll be bringing you more!

All images © Clare Kelly; www.cargocollective.com/clarecatherinekelly

 

A Christmas bargain

Hopefully your Christmas shopping is all done, presents wrapped and sitting beautifully under the tree whilst you sip away on some mulled wine in the evenings and congratulate yourself on how organised you are this year. No? Me neither! Thankfully gift inspiration has come to me via the work of jeweller Jaclyn T on Etsy this week. Jaclyn owns TrickArt jewellry and creates pieces that are inspired by the natural world - many of the items contain twigs from her very own garden.

I love this Stag  and twig neckalce.

Ditto for the leaf and twig.

I can think of several people I still need to buy gifts for that would also love one of these in their Christmas stocking. Now here's the best bit...for today ONLY, there is a whopping 65% discount on all TrickArt jewellery. Head on over now to grab yourself a Christmas bargain. TrickArt is based in Canada so unfortunately any gifts won't arrive in time for Christmas now but it's the thought that counts right?

Have a wonderful Christmas, I'll see you in the New Year.

Claire.

Images via

The Joy of...Christmas Decs

Heaven Scent

Looking back, I remember our Christmases most by the smells. Whether it being the turkey cooking as I was eating my breakfast on Christmas morning, or, when I was a little older, the sweet spices of cinnamon and nutmeg in the muled wine, I'd always know it was Christmas by the smell. Now, as I'm hosting my own Christmases, I want to re-create this association in my own way. And the way I want to do it is by filling the house with scented candles. Not only do they create lovely festive aromas (think amber, fig, cinnamon), they bring a lovely atmosphere to a room. Parisian brand Diptyque are my fave candle makers and this year they have introduced two new scents for the festive period: Perdigone (Spiced Plum) and Epinette (Spruce Tree).

Ah, imagine sitting by the fire on Christmas day, the house scented with these spiced candles, the turkey cooking and the wine flowing. Bliss!

Miller Harris also have some fantastic scented candles with my picks being Figue Amère and Noix de Tubéreuse.

Crabtree & Evelyn have also produced a candle specifically for the festive period. Named Noel, it has the aromas of cranberry, star anise and orange. Doesn't it sound divine! This one also comes in a pack of three so you can spread them around the house.

Do you have any Christmas traditions? -Laura.

(Images: Diptyque; Miller Harris and Crabtree & Evelyn}

The Brunch Bar

The holidays usually mean time off work - which to me translates into sleeping in and brunch! I love brunch and having extra time in the morning to sip coffee, read the paper and enjoy delicious breakfast food. Here is a roundup of some ideas for a great brunch:

Smooth buttermilk pancakes

Recipe: Becoming Lola

Something healthy and light, apricots with Greek yoghurt and pistachios

Recipe: With Style & Grace

I honestly eat this breakfast quinoa almost every morning! So healthy and delicious

Recipe: With Style & Grace

For those that love a good bagel (for the record, Montreal style bagels are THE best)

Image: Things Organized Neatly

 I love coconut and I think I would LOVE this coconut butter... on pancakes!

Recipe: Butterbean

Take the healthy road... but make it fun - fruit salad 

Image: Wit & Whistle

And for those that can't have brunch without a mimosa!

Image: On To Baby

 

Ciao! 

Meagan from the Row House Nest