Ah, the hallway. Not really a room is it? More of a busy thoroughfare. Every day we pound through it – scooters, shoes and coats are scattered to the wind. I rarely stop to notice our hallway, except to think good grief these walls are filthy. It's sad to think of your hall this way. It should ...
Beauty inspiration on a budget
Recently I've noticed I'm not looking as fresh-faced as I'd like. It's partly age, partly the time of year. Lack of sunlight and fresh air; central heating and comfort food – they all take their toll. I've never been one for lots of make-up. I prefer the simple look. But these days simple basically ...
#OnePerfectThing in January
Perfection often feels out of reach. But however imperfect you’re finding life, you can make an effort to find #OnePerfectThing. Something which makes you pause, smile and feel thankful. #OnePerfectThing is a community I started on Instagram last year. Looking through your first photos of 2017 ...
Spare a thought for yellow
Greenery. That's the colour of the year according to Pantone. I've always loved green, and I'm looking forward to writing about it. But first, can we spare a thought for yellow? Yellow has been on my mind a lot lately. What does yellow make you think of? For me it's sunshine, daffodils, lemons ...
Finding comfort in winter
This bit of winter is feeling hard. The novelty of cold weather is wearing thin and there's plenty of it to come yet. Keeping up the optimism of the new year can be difficult. Just when you think you're powering through January like a pro you slip on the hard ice and fall headfirst into a case of ...
My 10 tips for a great night’s sleep
Am I getting enough sleep? Is it the right kind of sleep? How can I get more? It's easy to get a little bit obsessed with your sleep. Some people manage on not much at all, but most of us only function properly if we've had about seven or eight hours sleep. I never get more than that, sometimes ...
Home Notes for January
January's always a time for looking at your house afresh. For me, this mainly seems to involve a lot of tidying. Clutter is the enemy. I rarely defeat it – at best we have an uneasy standoff. But, anyway, I'm slowly working my way the round the house. And while I do it, I'm dreaming of all the ...
Let’s start every week like it’s a new notebook
My dislike for Mondays is nothing new. As soon as the credits start rolling on whatever Sunday night drama I'm watching, the gloom descends – it's as regular as clockwork. But I'm trying to be different. This morning when I woke up a little phrase popped into my head: Let's start every week like ...
Sales picks from my shop
Inevitably, our purses are feeling a little empty at the moment. Now's the time to take advantage of January sales. You can stock up on inexpensive gifts for the year to come, or maybe just cheer yourself up with a bit of (relatively) guilt free shopping. Over in my online shop, I've got some ...
Indoor bulbs – a simple way to brighten up your home this week
At the moment it's muddy everywhere. And grey. So imagine my delight when I spotted a little patch of bulbs growing in someone's front garden. Snow drop, perhaps? I'm not sure. But what a welcome sight. A bright beacon in the barren January landscape. I want a bit of that in the house too – ...
A gentle start to the year
You may have noticed that I haven't published a list of resolutions yet this year. That's because I'm not making any. l have plenty of dreams and aspirations, but I'm keeping them fluid this year. I'm not ready to make a list. January isn't the best month of the year to be rigid with yourself. I ...
Things to discover, make and do in early January
Hello 2017! I hope it's been good for you so far. I'm emerging from my Christmas hibernation and beginning to make my way into the new year. I love the festive season and I'm always sad to see it end. A fresh year is inspiring, but also a little scary. I'm never one to exactly leap into it. I'm ...