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Peanut, coconut and chocolate chip flapjacks

Peanut, coconut and chocolate chip flapjacks

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If you’re looking for a sweet treat to bake at home right now (and if you’re lockdown parenting, something to keep the kids occupied for a while too), then look no further than these peanut, coconut and chocolate chip flapjacks. They weren’t supposed to have chocolate chips in, but Charlie requested them at the last minute, and they’re so good, I’ll definitely be adding them from now on. As long as you keep the basic fat/sugar/oat proportions in this recipe the same you can add or substitute ingredients for what you have handy at home. For the fat element, you can use butter, or coconut oil or plant based spread if you want to keep it vegan. Oh and if you don’t want to use peanut butter, just up the fat content to 175g.

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Lockdown leisurewear

Weekend wishlist: lockdown leisurewear

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How are we all doing? I hope you’re surviving the lockdown. It’s such a weird time isn’t it? Being locked down in the same house as your soon to be ex-husband has not been easy - thank goodness for Charlie coming home from uni and making me cry with laughter on a regular basis. If you’re suffering in a similar way, or just worried and anxious, like so many of us are, I’m sending positive vibes and big virtual hugs. I seem to have been checking out the online shops (the ones that are still open) for more lockdown leisurewear (I can’t help but say ‘leeeeshurewear’ when I read this word) to expand my limited jogging bottom/leggings working from home options, so I thought I’d bring you a bit of lockdown loveliness in the form of a few nice bits I’ve seen, and some special offers and discounts too.

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Ten helpful things to order in while you're self-isolating

Ten helpful things to order in while you’re self-isolating

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It’s at times like this that we really need to be supporting our local economies. Loads of our local small businesses are introducing really creative ways to keep going, from home delivery to new takeout offers, so I thought I’d list ten helpful things to order in while you’re self-isolating (or social distancing or whatever the hell it’s called). Plus if you have any ideas - ask! It might be possible for your local pub to sell you some bottles or wine or beer, even though their doors are shut. These are just a few local ones, but if you’ve heard of any others, please do add them in the comments, I’m sure we’d all benefit right now.

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Eco villas at Jungle Bay Dominica

The eco villas at Jungle Bay, Dominica

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So last time, I told you all about my life-changing visit to the Caribbean’s heavenly nature island of Dominica. After a long haul flight from Gatwick to Antigua, and a wildly exciting 45 minute prop plane flight, where we flew into a fiery peach sunset and skimmed over the top of beautiful Guadeloupe, we finally landed in Dominica. Our lovely guide, Trevo, picked us up from the airport, and as the sun set, we drove southwest - the warm air heavy with the grassy scent of the rainforest rushing through the windows making us deliciously drowsy, to the coast just above Soufriere to our first hotel, the brand new eco villas at Jungle Bay Dominica.

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The new hand luggage essentials

The new hand luggage essentials

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You know I love to travel. It’s not just about exploring and discovering beautiful new places, although that’s a huge incentive. It’s also about connections, meeting new people, and nurturing existing relationships by sharing these fabulous experiences. In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, I guess all travel will change, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go! The travel industry needs you. And the lovely people who work in travel, both here and abroad (including me), rely on you to pay their bills. So I thought I’d bring you my thoughts on the new hand luggage essentials. Plus after my life-changing trip to Dominica, it became clear that I really need to up my hand luggage game, so there’s a few in there that aren’t new, but are good reminders.

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Finding myself in Dominica

How I found myself in Dominica - the Caribbean’s nature island

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Oh my goodness, I cannot wait to tell you all about my trip to Dominica. I completely fell in love with this beautiful island and had such a wonderful, life-changing trip travelling back to my Dad’s favourite place in the Caribbean and - not to sound too ‘new agey’, I really felt that I found myself in Dominica - truly discovered a sense of peace and confidence after the sadness and anxiety of our marriage breaking down at Christmas. A wonderful week of feeling so close to nature, of swimming in the endless azure sea, dipping my toes in icy waterfalls, eating delicious fresh fish, dancing with abandon, wandering lush forests and boating along peaceful rivers is, it turns out, exactly what you need to get your head straight.

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Dog dental care: what should we be doing?

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Brushed your teeth this morning? Although as a nation we’re not known for having the best teeth (American friends with full, perfect sets of pearly whites often crack this gag), I actually think we’re quite good at looking after our gnashers: I’m a stickler for a six-month dental check, and I’ve had a bit of cosmetic work done too - just changing metal fillings for white ones, but I’d love to have my teeth whitened, and I’ve even been tempted by those clear braces to sort out an annoying gap. We’re also known as a nation of dog lovers. But how are we at looking after our doggies’ teefs? I’ve teamed up with Pedigree to join their ‘our teeth and theirs’ campaign, designed to promote proper dog dental care, and I’ve found it all really interesting.

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After the affair: a few things I’ve learned so far

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It’s now been nearly two months since I found out about the affair. The date - 18th December 2019 - will be forever etched in my memory. When I first wrote about it, I was still reeling, but now there’s been some breathing space - and a whole load more lies - I feel like I’ve learned a lot. The other side of the story still isn’t mine, so this is only my perspective, however, as a lovely friend Rach reminded me: you own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should’ve behaved better. One of my promises to myself, going into this new phase of my life, is to be 100%, unapologetically me. So here - deep breath - is, I guess, the divorce diary part one: after the affair: a few things I’ve learned so far.

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A life update

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Well hello there. If you’ve been popping in and not finding much going on, I thought I probably owed you a bit of a life update. Just before Christmas, my life as I knew it was smashed into a million tiny pieces. Everything I knew became everything I didn’t know. I think I can safely say it’s been the worst time of my life, but as always with these times, when you really need them, people show you the very best of themselves.

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Weekend wishlist: savvy sales shopping rules

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If you’re anything like me, your inbox right now is probably full of sales offers and new year bargains (and I thought I’d unsubscribed from most of them!). We all know this is the way that the brands move their old stock and clear out room for new season pieces, but is it worth taking the time to hunt through, or are all the sales just best avoided? I have a few rules that I keep in the notes on my phone (I keep everything: motivational quotes, lovely sentences I’ve read, nice messages people have sent me…) and it really does help keep me on track. I thought it might help to share my savvy sales shopping rules with you - you never now, the perfect item might be out there just waiting to be discovered!

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Winter proofing your home for the New Year

Winter proofing your home for the New Year

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Well, hello there. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. We spent a quiet Christmas at home and then I had my traditional New Year’s Eve with my gorgeous family. I love the feeling of the fresh new start that comes now the tree is down and the decorations have gone back in the loft. There’s plenty of chilly weather to come, though, so I’ve been thinking about ideas for winter proofing your home for the New Year, and making our living spaces cosy and warm once all the twinkly bits have been put away. You know I’m totally here for all things hygge, and it’s the perfect Scandi concept for whiling away the rest of the winter in cosy comfort.

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Weekend wishlist: gorgeous Christmas stuff for your home

Weekend wishlist: gorgeous Christmas stuff for your home

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There are just 11 sleeps until the big day and realistically, if you’re shopping online - especially at some of the independent shops - you’ll need to be thinking about getting your orders in pretty shortly. Seeing as this is one of my last weekend wishlists of the year - the decade! - I thought I’d share some of my favourite online shops with you, and pick out some lovely bits and pieces: decorations, wreaths, tableware, heavenly scented candles and more. So here, then, *tiny fanfare* is my roundup of the most gorgeous Christmas stuff for your home.

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The big Christmas beauty gift guide

The great big Christmas beauty gift guide

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Following on from my great big Christmas gift guide, I just had to make a separate gift guide for all the gorgeous beauty stuff I’ve loved this year (and longer). I think beauty just makes the best present, whether you’re buying for teenagers, friends, Mums (or husbands - Mr E loves a bit of skincare), or even for a bit of self gifting (we’re worth it too). You can give eco/sustainable, practical, or luxe that people wouldn’t necessarily buy themselves, and, as I said in my last gift guide, it doesn’t get better than giving someone a gift that is both beautiful and useful (paraphrasing Mr Morris there). So here’s my great big Christmas beauty gift guide/great big roundup of all the beauty bits I’ve adored this year.

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The great big foodie Christmas gift guide

The great big foodie Christmas gift guide

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So following on from my great big Christmas gift guide, it’s time to concentrate on our lovely food-loving friends (my favourites!) and get cracking on a great big foodie Christmas gift guide. As usual, my gifting philosophy is to err on the side of practical, useful and useable, and foodie gifts slot in very well here. I’ve added a couple of wines, some fab books and a couple of wonderful dining experiences too. Enjoy! Read more

The big Christmas gift guide

The great big Christmas gift guide

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It’s that time again! I absolutely love creating this gift guide (this is my tenth year!) and every year I try and find something for everyone, although as my own kids get older, I naturally seem to do less kid stuff, sorry about that. I’ve tried hard to find gifts for every type of person that you might possibly have to buy for, or, y’know, to add to your own Christmas wishlist. You’ll notice from that I’ve applied my usual philosophy, which is that useful presents that can be used/eaten/drunk are so much better than ornaments or things that might not be to the recipient’s taste. I’ve also tried to include lots of sustainable pressies. So here <insert fanfare> is the great big Christmas gift guide. Enjoy!

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My top tips for creating a teenager's dream bedroom

My top tips for creating a teenager’s dream bedroom

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There comes a time when your kids are all grown up and it’s officially time to upgrade their bedrooms and swap the dinosaur wallpaper for something a little more suitable. Renovating a bedroom can be a bit of a struggle - especially if your teenager’s tastes are a little different to yours - but I’ve got some top tips for creating a teenager’s dream bedroom that won’t cost you a fortune and will keep everyone happy.

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