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Easter-spiration

I love Easter – it heralds new beginnings on the farm & in the garden. Its the start of the good weather (hopefully) after what always seems like a very long winter here in Northumberland as well as spring flowers & lots of colour!

I love entertaining at Easter too, its always much more of a laid back event – Christmas without the pressure, plus if the weather is good we can get outside & enjoy some sunshine.

I love colour & all things bright & vibrant so spring flowers always fit the bill. The frilly orange tulips, muscari, acid green euphorbia, bright yellow daffodils & blossom from the hedges. I love nothing more than filling some of the recycled glass bud vases with pretty posies & dotting them around my home or on my table for Easter entertaining.

Coloured candles, candle holders & ribbon are also great way of adding a pop of colour to an Easter table. I recently got all crafty & made these pretty ‘Easter Egg’ napkins. They were super easy to do & you could use a chocolate egg, decorated hand painted egg or even get the children involved with some hard boiled eggs!

If your not hosting this Easter & need an alternative to chocolate or wine for your hostess why not take her some of our mix & match candles or napkins … they always come in handy!

The best selling bangle bobbles also make a great chocolate alternative to all the girls in your life! New colours for spring now online.

Please note last guaranteed delivery for Easter is 11th April….

Han xx

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Gifts for the girls in your life!

I love supporting small businesses – buying their products & working alongside them. This week we celebrated International Women’s Day & with Mothers’s Day at the end of the month I thought I would pop together a gift guide championing some products from some of my favourite small businesses for you to gift to girls in your life or treat yourself too!

I love giving pressies to friends & family. Did you know that there is scientific research to show that giving a gift to somebody releases endorphins in the brain – gifts don’t just benefit the receiver, they also give you, the giver joy!

So here are a few of my gifting ideas – things I love & would give to others or treat myself too!

Hands up all gardeners & hard working girls whos hands need a bit of TLC. Tam Mason makes the most amazing hand & body scrubs which really do nourish dry skin. I love her new hand oil which has just launched. It sorted my hands out after a week of cold weather gardening & farm & pony duties!

With Mother’s Day beckoning why not send a handmade card from Charlotte at Truly Me Studio – I love her hand drawn designs featuring spring flowers.

Calling all stationary fans…. Have you come across South London Letter Press? I love the bold designs & fun colours Karen uses – I bought some of her cards & fountain pens as pressies at Christmas time … I really would like some for myself now!

It goes without saying that I am pretty useless without a cup of coffee on board first thing in the morning. My favourite coffee is definitely from the lovely Ruth at Coffee & Kin. The pods are compostable (ground coffee is also available), the coffee tastes amazing & each pack gives a proportion of its funds back to The Blurt Foundation which supports people with their mental health. It does good as well as tasting good! I love gifting the coffee & chocolate boxes – a real treat for anybody!

If coffee isn’t your thing how about gifting tea? Emma from Land Girls supports inspirational women in farming – I am all up for that! I love her foraged English Garden Tea – tastes fabulous, so refreshing & I love that is foraged in Sussex.

Coffee & tea need a good mug! I love the mugs & mats from Killy & Co. Claire’s designs are fun, colourful & feature stars & animals. What’s not to love! Her mugs are so good to drink from too – the perfect weight, thickness & handle – the colouful designs always make me smile … if any of my friends are reading this you know what to get me for my birthday!

I love The Country Gift Company – its run by a friend, Jane & she sources some great gifts & treats all with a country feel to them. There are ranges that include bees, pheasants, dogs & hens & much much more! These Mama Bee Pamper sets are a perfect gift – we all need a pamper session now & again dont we!

If its a personalised gift your needing check out From The Oak Tree. I love the chopping boards, boot pullers, recipe book holders & oak bowls. Charlotte & her team have great ideas & designs – its one of my go too shops for gifts (good for boys pressies / wedding gifts too).

Bud vases are always high on my gifting list! Have you seen this pretty Mini Scalloped Posy Vase from Anna at Osski Home? Its handmade & perfect for spring posies or dried flowers. I think it would look lovely on a Mother’s Day breakfast tray with a hand picked daffodils – wonder if my girls will bring me breakfast in bed (highly unlikely!).

My go to present for all girls is a scented candle. You just can’t beat a good one! Recently I have come across a fabulous brand called Iris Organics. Run by Gabby – I just love the fact these candles are handmade in the UK, use soy wax & smell amazing! I am using the Rosemary & Lemon Grass at the moment – its so uplifting & fresh!

I hope my guide has introduced you to some new small businesses that you haven’t yet met & given you some inspiration to find that perfect gift for all the girls you know or a good wish list for treats to yourself!

Much love Han x