Do You Really Need the Heating On in March? A Marital Debate

Now that spring is here we can turn the heating off, right? It’s March, it’s positively balmy! 

Agree with me? My husband doesn’t. He also doesn’t agree that snow on the roof insulates, that fresh air is bracing, and being slightly chilly is excellent for the metabolism. He’s all thermal vests, I’m very much not. 

We have what can only be described as ‘thermostat incompatibility’. Or to put it more directly: Thermostat Wars. My husband and I can’t agree on the temperature - at all. He tweaks it up, I tweak it down. The dial is right outside the living room, so in the evening whenever one of us casually asks, “Drink?” the other suspiciously watches as they pass through the hallway to the kitchen. 

Should You Turn the Heating Off in March? The Never-Ending Thermostat Battle

My response to the whoosh of the boiler turning on is the same as the whoosh of £10 notes bursting into flame would be. Besides, making it turn on all the time for the heating puts strain on the boiler - and after the boiler we had in the last house, with it’s flaky, frankly laissez-faire attitude to working, I think that’s a very valid point.

For me, a pleasant ambient temperature is one that will see my husband putting on a coat. And he’s not averse to doing that in the house either. For Christmas this year I bought him some thermal socks, hand warmers and a gilet that heats up when you plug it in. He wears them all INDOORS. He’s still cold.

If I’m going to have a particular phrase etched on my gravestone I think it might be: “Is it me, or is it hot in here?”. And don’t go thinking this is because, as the delightful Mr Wallace would put it, I’m a woman of a certain age. Oh no, I’ve been like this forever. To me, my idea of absolute hell is a turtle neck jumper. Or just any jumper, especially one that’s acrylic. I can feel my eyeballs sweating at the thought of it.

We recently bought a new car, and this thing has not only heated seats but also a heated steering wheel. Ridiculous! Thankfully it also has individual climate control, so he can have his side of the car on ‘Bahamas Setting’ whilst mine is the far more sensible ‘Snowflake Setting’. 

We also have an ongoing window war in the bedroom. For me, I absolutely can’t sleep with it shut. This worked perfectly in the old house when my side of the bed was next to the window. Sadly that’s not the case now, so he sleeps with the duvet literally over his head and the ever-present thermal vest on (although not the gilet). I sleep with my legs out. I've been googling "Scrooge type nightcap" for his upcoming birthday...

We can both get quite dramatic about temperature levels, and I admit quite freely that levels of histrionics about said temperature are often just as extreme. I can’t cope with being in a hermetically sealed environment (ie, windows closed), he can’t cope with being in the Arctic (ie, a room temperature below 25 degrees). 

I know that this disparity isn’t how things are supposed to be - women are supposed to be cold all the time, men are supposed to be hot all the time. I’ve seen men with my own eyes, walking about in January in shorts. I suppose at least we’re both the wrong way round when it comes to heating, so I guess we’re not so different from other families up and down the country. And there’s always that day or two every year when the temperature is just right for both of us. Not too hot, not too cold, no need for gilets.

So, what’s it like in your household? Do you also suffer from the Great Thermostat Wars/Standoff in your relationship?

Sarah x

The 10 Big Garden Trends for 2023

We're used to seeing trends in fashion and interiors, but there are some big themes taking centre stage in the gardening world this year - so with Chelsea Flower Show happening this week I thought it would be an ideal time to do some research for you to unearth the latest directions and key looks I'm seeing in the gardening world... (hint: gravel is going to be huge!)

1: Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Gardening

Climate change is forcing gardeners to carefully consider their planting choices, with rising temperatures, harsher weather, and often summer water shortages. Gardeners are in touch with sustainability by nature, so shopping locally, choosing plants that are able to cope with climate changes, and adapting your plans to suit the new conditions are all at the forefront of garden design this year. Drought tolerant plants, the use of mulches to retain moisture in the soil, and Mediterranean style planting is all bang on trend this year. Also plants that flower later into the season as summers go beyond August. Finding tough plants that can tolerate weather extremes, from droughts to floods, is important - the RHS have created a useful list of plants suitable for awkward conditions - click here

2: Colour Trends

Designers are predicting a move towards dark planting colours, intermingled with bright bursts of colour. Combine plants with deep purple, bronze, brown and darkest green stems and foliage, with bright meadow style flowers. For a softer combination, think about mixing smoky purples and soft grey foliage. Mix dark blue, grey and purple hues with small flashes of colour such as vivid pinks or bright yellow. Also terracotta is becoming huge: not just in planters and landscaping, but in plant colours too. Sun baked soft terracotta, and slightly more punchy paprika shades, are popular for interiors right now and are making a move into the garden too. Dahlias are going to be a popular plant for 2023, as they're perfect for small spaces and come in an abundance of colours.

3: Greenhouses & Propogation

The cost of living crisis is driving more gardeners to grow their own - and while having a lovely big greenhouse would be lovely, we don't all have the space. Utilise a windowsill, or create a simple mini greenhouse by cutting down an old plastic drink bottle. If you can afford a greenhouse though, the trending styles will be romantic, intricate Victorian designs, creating a beautiful feature in the garden rather than simply a practical growing space.

4: Mulches, Patios and Pathway Trends

Water retention in flower beds is becoming more and more important, so the use of mulches will be growing hugely in 2023. Not just restricted to the flower bed though, these useful materials can also be used to create gentle pathways through the garden. Think gravel, crushed concrete, and natural materials such as nut shells, bark and fruit pits. Using gravel instead of pointing between paving slabs on the patio will give a softer look and also allow for drainage too. The use of dark natural stones for paving and landscaping will be big this year, and is the perfect off-set to dramatic greenery. Think dark greys, warm buffs and browns. The rise of patterned flooring in the home in kitchens and bathrooms is spilling out into the garden, with patterned patios in small urban spaces becoming popular and creating a bold modern statement. 

5: Consider wildlife - and your life

Whether it's encouraging insects with a bug hotel, or keeping your garden hedgehog friendly, we can all see the importance of finding innovative ways to include wildlife habitats into the garden. Encourage those all important bees into your garden by planting pretty cottage garden and native wildflowers in large drifts to provide nectar during the growing season. The WWF have some great tips on encouraging bees on their website - click here for details. Water features and ponds are still going to be hugely popular, and a lovely way to while away a few hours watching visiting insect life. 'Biophilia’ is a buzzword this year, which means the theory of humans wanting to interact or commune with nature - find ways to share your garden with wildlife to improve your own sense of wellbeing, take a moment to walk barefoot or lay down and gaze at the birds flying overhead, meditate and contemplate as the bees buzz... 2023 is all about encouraging wildlife, but also about using your outdoor space as an escape from life and a way of helping your own mental wellbeing.

6: Houseplant Trends

Expect to see lots of exotic plants in the home this year: orchids in particular. As we dial down the temperature of our homes thanks to rising fuel bills, we are actually creating great climates for growing unusual exotics which prefer cooler environments.

7: Wildflower Lawns

While the perfectly manicured lawn is a thing of beauty, 2023 will be seeing more of the trend towards letting parts of our lawns have a wild meadow-like feel. Lawns will also be getting smaller as we make way for more planting. The rewilding approach will be coupled with a structured design though, keeping gardens tidy and also productive, but allowing us to feel more in touch with a less groomed naturalistic feel. Tapestry lawns will be big, dividing larger lawns into designated patchwork areas: giving up parts of their lawn to pollinators, parts to low-lying flowering plants and mini wildflower meadows, embracing dandelions and clover in other parts.

8: Decorative Garden Screens and Panels

Using screens and garden panelling either in wood or intricate metal designs is a great way of creating privacy, but also creating individual zones or areas in your garden - and they are going to be a popular trend in 2023. We want to use our gardens for all sorts of activities, from relaxing with a book, to eating alfresco, to giving the children a play space, and the use of screens allows you to create rooms in your garden in a contemporary way and at the same time provide an area to train plants against. Vertical gardening is also going to be big for 2023, and is a great way of combining planting and screening with the use of climbers or adding small planters and troughs to an existing screen or boundary fence or wall.

9: Cottage Garden Style

The cottagecore trend is still as popular as ever, and it is encouraging gardeners to opt for an old fashioned cottage style in their garden plans, combining functionality and practicality, with aesthetics. Mix native colourful flowers with vegetables and herbs planted in the same bed, encourage insect life, start making your own compost, add a water butt, and let the edges of your plot soften and run a little wild (in a nurtured way)!

10: Mediterranean Garden Style

The popularity of gravel and drought loving plants all adds up to this classic garden style. Greece is having a big impact too, with artfully placed statues, archways, natural stone, a shaded bench in white under some bougainvillia, evergreen box and agapanthus. Think blues and whites, mixed with natural stone and terracotta, and pops of vivid pink. It's a holiday destination in your own back garden!

Take a look at my Garden Trends for 2023 board on Pinterest for some more inspiration. 

I also have a board dedicated to Boho Garden Styles which you might find interesting!

Sarah :)

Top 5 Key Interior Trends for 2022

2021 is definitely the year that should be labelled “The one where the 90's came back” - the Friends Reunion made us all feel nostalgic for the good pre-covid times! Aviator glasses, bootleg jeans, and high-heeled shoes giving way to crocs (lockdown comfort!)

With the year drawing to an end in just a few week's time, I thought it would be fun to look forwards to 2022 and think about what will be happening in terms of interior and lifestyle trends. I subscribe to loads of interior blogs, trend reports and style commentators, so thought I'd put together a breakdown of where I think the directions are going. (If you don't know your Royalcore from your Cottagecore, read on..!)

I've created some special boards on Pinterest for you to illustrate each trend - so if you need some inspiration click here to take a look!

Maximalism & Opulence - The opulent look can go one of two ways: rich vibrant colour palettes, luxurious finishing touches, richness: think 'stately home' mixed with art nouveau decadence (upstairs at Gosford Park!) and a touch of 1970’s glamour - or alternatively there's the new 'Royal Core' style influenced by majesty, historic romanticism, ballrooms and French drawing rooms of the Belle Époque era (basically, think 'Bridgerton', either rich colour tones or muted pastels, Venetian mirrors and candelabras, and lots of gold and silver!) . It’s a style that's been around for a while (although I've been seeing more 1920's influences coming in recently, along with the flamboyant new royalcore style) but, I think because it's all about pushing away the grind of real life and having a bit of fun, escapism and luxury on a daily basis it's still a style trend that will continue to be popular for quite some time. 

Rustic Cottage - Soft colour palettes, gentle and homely, mixed patterns and prints, nostalgic and whimsical: think retro Laura Ashley from the 70's, mixing up floral and subtle stripe prints, handmade accessories, flowers, layers of warm white, creams, pinks, blues and greens. The Cottagecore aesthetic has been huge for the past year, mostly because it harks back to gentler, more familiar times, with the emphasis on tranquillity and a cosy, simple lifestyle - taking time to pour tea from a teapot, read a book, grow your own veg or bake... 

Japandi and the New Minimalism - Japandi is the fusion of Scandi and Japanese style, where east-meets-west: think relaxation, neutral colour palettes and natural materials: calm, nature, wellbeing - think open windows, work-life balance, plants and fresh air, visual quietness and space. The new minimalist style is one that focuses on lines, simplicity and space. It’s about clean lines, functionality, and clearing away the clutter so that you can live a more peaceful life. It isn’t about being clinical though - it can be soft and warm, but it must be simple and uncluttered. Include colours like pearl grey, sky blue, natural wood (light or dark), touches of black, pale chalky pink and white. Let key, favourite pieces of furniture or décor be your guide. If you've been a fan of the Scandi or Hygge style for a while now, it will be an easy leap to start incorporating Japandi into the scheme. Keep walls simple, perhaps picking out just one to be a focus in the room. Which leads me on to...

Feature Walls - they're back! The trend is for boldness, whether it's geometric, botanical prints, texture, colour, whatever - it's about impact! Keep the rest of the room simple however, so that the impact isn't lost or muddled. The beauty of this trend is that it's one of the easiest ways to make a big impact in a room relatively simply. Introducing one striking focal point in your room can have a really big effect on an otherwise simple (dare I say, boring?) room. We recently created a panelled wall in my daughter's room and the impact it has made to the room is incredible.

Solace and Calm - Soft, neutral colour palettes made up of complimentary creams, soft clay pinks, cool grey and beige, smoky soft brown, opaline green, and clear pale blues (eg, Dulux Colour of the Year, ‘Bright Skies’). Mixed with textures like limestone, plaster and stone, suede. If you want to introduce metallics keep them soft and oh-so-pale - nothing brash: think translucent, pearly sheen and lustre rather than shine. Have minimal use of pattern, let texture say it all. Organic shapes and curves, and just a hint of bohemian. Picture sitting on a rocking chair in front of a faded craggy plaster wall, watching the sun set over Arizona... there, you've got it!

Micro trends for 2022: 

• Matt Black - on the walls, or home accessories, this is a statement that will work fantastically with the maximalism or Japandi trends!
• Bright Yellow - uplifting and the complete opposite to matt black, it can be used as a simple accent, or to give a serious pop of quirkyness and attitude in a room, or given an elegance when mixed with grey or the matt black trend. Let the sun shine in! Look at Farrow & Ball’s Babouche No.223 for inspiration.
• Green - in all shades, from fresh barely-there shades, to deep velvety opulent greens. It’s the influence of nature, combined with the kick back from lockdowns and indoor living - and it will work in pretty much any setting or style.
• Polka Dots - expect to see spots and dots, small and large, everywhere...
• Bees - of all kinds, from monochromatic vintage style to fun pops of colour or metallics; the bee emblem is definitely hot at the moment and I think it'll still be around in 2022!
• Faux Greenery & Dried Plants - they've been around for ages and show no sign of leaving, although as we move into winter think about swapping out the leafy green faux plants for bundles of dried flowers, architectural dried grasses, and wall wreaths for a softer country look.  
• Textures & Metallics - mix textures to introduce a cosy feel to any room, combining wood and stone with softer knitted or velvet textures, and combine with metallic shades (bright and brash, or soft and aged)
• Sanctuary - a few years ago it was all about knocking down walls and open-plan living, but lockdown life has made many of us hanker for a little solitude and personal space. If we can't have a room of our own, we might want to create a private quiet oasis in a little corner of a room: think a comfy chair, a cosy throw or a beautiful cushion, a thoughtful piece of wall art and a carefully chosen lamp or piece of home decor that we love. Or if you don't have space indoors, create a little corner in the garden - complete with a wood burner or outdoor pizza oven, some candles, plenty of warm blankets - and maybe an outdoor bar! 
• Work from home - it’s obvious why this has become so important for millions of people over the last 2 years, and lockdowns have created their own take on life, with many of us reviewing the idea of commuting to a workplace and trying to juggle work and home, and instead opting for a flexible work environment if possible. This means there’s a need for a comfortable and functional work area - the space has to blend with your interior, not jar against it. Organisation and storage is key, along with natural light, comfort (vital from a health point of view), and accessories to make our work feel more inspired, joyful and fun.

And finally...

Gifting trends this Christmas:

This Christmas it's all about handcrafted - everything plastic and mass produced is out (which is just as well as it's probably stuck on a container ship anyway). This year it's all about thoughtful giving: think 'quirky, original, handmade' - but 'quality' too: this is about mindful gifting, with longevity and thoughtfulness in mind. Think creative and inspirational.

Christmas 2021 trends:

It's all about family this year - coming together (hopefully) in a way we couldn't last year. Conviviality, closeness, a sense of belonging and sharing. It's not about all-out partying (because we don't actually know yet how this Christmas is going to go), but it's about being together even if we can't be in the same room. Connections, family traditions, rituals. Decorations will either be all out maximalist (because at the end of the day, Christmas fits that particular trend perfectly!), or about calmness and nature (greenery and a simple colour palette). This year think about introducing creative and unique touches: decorating your tree with blossoms and leaves perhaps, for a botanical look rather than all out glitter. Consider starting a new tradition of buying a single special decoration for the tree each year, something that sums up the year and will evoke memories in future Christmases. Involve the children and make your own paper decorations, recycling card and paper, even newspaper. (Click here to see my special Pinterest board: Easy Christmas Makes)

Sarah x

BBC Radio Norfolk Young Volunteer of the Year Winner, 2019

Well, this week has been very exciting, and I just have to share it with you - this happened!

Amy Thexton, winner of BBC Radio Norfolk Young Volunteer of the Year 2019

Our lovely daughter Amy won the Young Volunteer of the Year 2019 Award on BBC Radio Norfolk! It was a total surprise - the radio station were very sneaky and told us she was invited in because she'd been shortlisted: to then reveal live on air that she'd actually won! 

Amy, a few seconds before going into the studio - she looks so calm!

Amy has been volunteering at the fabulous Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Museum, here in Norfolk. She originally went for a week of work experience when she was in Year 10 at school, and absolutely loved it. Her dream is to one day become a museum curator, and the week she spent there completely reaffirmed her wish. At the end of her week she was distraught to be leaving - not only had she thoroughly enjoyed her time, but she'd also found herself working with the super friendly museum staff that she realised she was going to miss. So she contacted the Curator and asked if she could come back as a volunteer, and she's been helping them during her holidays working on all sorts of projects, from working in the archives to creating interactive displays for museum visitors. 

The Museum nominated Amy earlier in the year when they found out about the competition, and were absolutely delighted when she won! I had the opportunity to sit just outside the studio while she was being interviewed and managed to grab a sneaky photo:

Live on air!

It's impossible to describe how proud we are of our girl - not only for volunteering, but for taking it so much in her stride during the interview. Yes, she was nervous, but she spoke beautifully about her work at the museum - we reckon she's got quite a career in front of her!

Sarah x

Brand New: Bespoke Wooden Shelf Blocks & Wooden Signs

I'm so excited to tell you about this new range of personalised wooden shelf blocks that I've just introduced - I think you're going to love them!

These are all designed and created in-house by me, and I think they look great mounted on the wall or popped on a shelf (we've got a 'Tickety Boo' one on a shelf in the kitchen: and people always seem to smile when they spot it!). Each wooden sign is created to order, and the text is available in 7 different colours - including gorgeous sparkly, glitter colours.

These personalised wooden shelf blocks are available in my shop on Folksy - and all have free UK delivery, just like the main PhotoFairytales website.

No Riff Raff - bespoke wooden shelf block sign plaque

Here's a little glimpse of some of the designs on offer, but to see all of them head over to the PhotoFairytales Folksy Shop now:

Beware of the Dog - fun personalised wooden sign for dog owners!

Everything is Tickety Boo - bespoke personalised wooden sign

I love it! What is it? Bespoke personalised wooden sign

This is just a small selection of the designs available - if you want to see them all head over to my Folksy shop to browse them all.

The bespoke wooden signs are chunky enough to be freestanding, measuring 2cm thick. They're made from real wood, washed with an ivory paint and are a generous 32x10cm. Each plaque also has pre-drilled holes on the reverse if you wish to hang it on the wall. The blocks are hand finished and have an attractive irregular rustic ‘shabby’ finish, with some light sanding of the paint in places, and there are variations between each one. After creating your text they are finally painted with 2 coats of matte varnish to protect it from dust and marks.

There are designs for all sorts of occasions: weddings and anniversaries, designs for dog and cat owners, housewarming gifts, and fun designs which would make a great birthday or Christmas gift. And of course, the wooden signs make a great low cost finishing touch for your own home - so why not treat yourself to one?!

Sarah :)

Everyone loves a cup of coffee... except me

I've just had a hot cup of coffee. I know, it's not something you'd think was worth a mention really. Except, I hate coffee. I'm a tea drinker, have been for years. Coffee is horrible.

So, why am I even drinking a cup of coffee you ask?

Look at that cup of coffee - pretending to taste nice just to tempt you in...

Well, I'm just getting over the flu and my taste buds are shot to hell - I can taste barely anything (we had an exciting chilli the other night - my family sat there with steam coming out of their ears, while I was complaining that it was too mild). I didn't make the coffee by mistake though - since having the flu I've pretty much gone off tea for some weird reason and I don't know what else to drink during the day! I'm lost!! Water, lemonade, blah blah - rosehip/herbal tea, yeah, I can take it for a couple of days but no more - hot chocolate, too sweet and claggy. So I figured if there's ever a time to try a cup of coffee it was now...

The only time I've ever drunk coffee by choice was during my time working in the publishing section at HMSO years ago - the tea trolley lady was replaced by a horrible vending machine (no more yells of "Caaaake!!" from the corridor as she trundled towards the office... it was a sad, sad day). All hot drinks came out of the same nozzle in this horrible new machine - tea became a foul and awful mockery of itself. So that pretty much left me with a choice of coffee or nothing. Coffee it was then. And the 'coffee' that came out of the machine actually tasted more like tea - so I just used to drink it because it tasted absolutely nothing like hideous coffee.

It was almost a newly invented drink of it's very own rarity...

I have to say I only ever started being a tea drinker when I was in my teens/20's. It seems when you get to that age people don't offer you milk or squash or pop anymore - you're expected to want a hot drink. A hot drink that is either tea or coffee (hot chocolate doesn't get a look in). Why is that? This happens more especially in a professional/work environment. Go to a meeting: can I get you a tea or coffee? Go for an interview: would you like tea or coffee? Head to the tea lady/vending machine/staff kitchen: you can have tea or coffee, that's your lot. So I started drinking tea purely because it was the lesser of the two evils. And now, actually, I don't mind it - in fact, quite often I enjoy a good cuppa. It hits the spot in a way that nothing else does sometimes!

So, what did I think of my recent cup of coffee? Put it this way, I won't be rushing back for a second. Guess I'll just have to wait a few more days until my wretched taste buds get back to normal and I can enjoy my tea again. Still, it's always worth trying things more than once I guess - otherwise I wouldn't be here in front of you able to declare my love of sprouts and olives, and I'd still be telling you my favourite food is Frosties and chicken nuggets!

Sarah :) 

The joy of bread...

Trust me, if I could find a way of turning this into a Scratch 'n Sniff Blog I would - because if you were here right now with me you'd be breathing in one of the MOST delicious smells on the planet... the smell of bread baking. Ahhhhhhhhh.... heaven!

Let me give you a little glimpse into life at PhotoFairytales HQ: every Friday morning I bake bread. I do it during the week too, but on varying days. Whereas Friday morning has become a pattern because the whole bread eating thing becomes more frequent when everyone's home all day.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not elbow deep in flour, kneading and proving, and being all uber-houswifeish! Nope, I cheat, I've got a bread maker - in 5 minutes flat I have all the ingredients chucked in the pan and the machine is doing it all for me. It's on just shy of a 3 hour programme, which means that about this time on a Friday morning I'm getting both barrels of that gorgeous bread smell. It's almost ready!!

I started baking bread not long ago, so I'm just starting out. My mum kindly let me borrow her bread machine for a few months to see how I got on before making the commitment and buying my own machine. Within a month I was online and scouring the many different brands available having quickly made my mind up that there was no going back!

So what have I learnt in the 3 or 4 months since I started baking my own bread? Well, I know that mixing white and wholemeal flour works when I want to do my own version of that 50/50 type bread. I know that adding as much sugar as it states in the recipe is too much - I've cut down from 2tbsp to 1tbsp. I found 2tbsp made the bread far too sweet, but bread seems to need some sugar to help the yeast do its thing. I use just less than half of the recommended salt too - and I've used Low Salt and normal salt, and both work just as well. I've experimented with yeast amounts too - and found that cutting that back a tiny bit actually makes for a nicer loaf.

But my biggest tip of all? How to get a soft crust...

Don't get me wrong, we all like a nice crunchy loaf - but when you're using the bread for sandwiches, etc too you don't always necessarily want the loaf to be crunchy all the time. So, to get a nice soft crust that still has a bit of good 'chew factor' to it, and to stop the bread being a bit on the crumbly side, I've basically upped the fat content. The recipe told me to use water - but I now use roughly 2/3 milk to 1/3 water. And instead of using 2tbsp of butter I now use 2tbsp of oil. And it works every time :) When I get the bread out of the machine I wrap it in a clean tea towel which also seems to help it keep its softness as it cools.

Sorry, this has turned into a bit of a cooking and baking type blog this week, hasn't it? Ooh, the bread machine's just beeped - got to go!

Sarah x

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How to teach your pet to *actually* talk..."

"Don't make eye contact, she's trying
to teach us to talk again..."

I really should stop trying to teach my pets to talk… but I just can't help myself...

And when I say ‘talk’, I don’t mean bark on command, etc - oh no, I mean TALK!

It’s not something I’m deliberately setting out to do (I’m not totally mad… well, not totally and completely), it’s more something that I just occasionally catch myself doing. Take this morning for example: I reached for a banana from the fruit bowl and Bella Cat watched with interest and made a little peeping sound. So I looked at her and said, “Banana”. I was showing her a banana and repeating the word IN THE HOPE THAT SHE MIGHT REPEAT IT. Yes, well… It’s the same system I used for my daughter when she was a baby, and she picked up the whole talking thing very quickly!

I was once out walking Freddy Dog when he paused to look at a bird sitting on a fence. “Look Freddy”, I said, “BIRD”. He looked up at me, we caught each other’s eye, and I thought: oh blimey, I’m trying to teach my dog to say the word ‘bird’.

Last week Fred presented me with his empty food bowl  by dragging it upstairs and dropping it on my feet (he’s not subtle). I picked it up, showed it to him, and said, “Bowl”. Just yesterday we had some snow and I pointed out of the window and said, “Snow”. I’m thinking maybe I’m favouring teaching the dog over the cat, but that’s really only because he seems to show more willing. Bella just looks on with a slightly wilful expression (I think she’ll be a slow learner - might even turn out to be dyslexic…)

My pets are both (of course) highly intelligent. But I don’t genuinely think they’ll ever learn to talk (though it won’t be from lack of parental teaching and guidance I assure you). Yesterday I saw a dog on Facebook writing his own name with a paint brush. Yeah, but can he talk?

I think if (or when) the day ever comes that Bella says the word ‘Banana’ or Freddy mentions that his bowl is empty rather than shows me, will probably be a surprising but well-earned one. I might be tempted to rename Freddy ‘Gaspode’ in honour of the dog from the Terry Pratchett books (who, if you don’t know, is a dog who thinks like a human and says the word ‘woof’ rather than barking).

Look, Freddy: Blog. Can you say ‘Blog’? What about, ‘Pho-to-Fair-y-tales’? Good boy!

Surely I'm not the only person in the world who does this? Am I??

Love from the nuthouse,

Sarah x

How to get printer ink off your hands...

Getting ink off fingers - choose your weapon!

Running a business like PhotoFairytales, this is a regular occurrence for me - I rarely manage to change an ink cartridge on my printer without managing to get a few smudges on my hands. Drives me mad!

This morning I had a complete disaster when a black cartridge decided to flood ink all over me, coating my finger tips and palms. So this is what I tried to get it off:

• Straight away I reached for the nail varnish remover - took off a bit, but not very much.
• Next I sent my OH into the garage to fetch his Swarfega (I love the smell of this stuff!) - and that, coupled with an awful lot of scrubbing took off another layer or two.
• But I still had ink ingrained into the grooves of my skin, so after some quick googling, I found a tip that mentioned hairspray. I sprayed some over my fingertips, waited for about 10-15 seconds, then scrubbed it off with some soapy water and the nail brush again. By this time the skin of my poor hands were starting to rebel from all the hard scrubbing!

I’ve still got some ink imbedded in the grooves of my fingertips, but the ink on my palms has by now pretty much gone. I would say that I’ve managed to get 95% of the ink out of my skin - certainly enough to be ‘passable’! (Although I think if I worked in an environment where my hands had to look completely spotless they wouldn’t pass.)

The only other thing left to try is a bleach solution (roughly 1 part bleach to 10 parts water). But my hands are suffering from all the scrubbing as it is so I’m not going to bother this time - but I’m sure it would be the ‘big guns’ if I did need them to be totally flawless. (I’ve also heard that window cleaner is worth a try, and also those ‘magic eraser’ sponges, but I have a feeling bleach would be the best final resort.)

So I shall give my poor hands a rest and give them a treat with some of my Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector (seriously, this is the best handcream I have ever, EVER, tried). My hands are so prone to dryness and if I don’t look after them (or have a day when they’re in and out of water), they get sore and cracked - but this hemp handcream is great at restoring them. I can’t praise it highly enough, so if you’re looking for a really heavy-duty handcream I’d definitely recommend it. Bloomin’ marvellous (bit pricey, but lasts for ages)!

Have you found something miraculous for getting printer ink out of your fingers? If you've got any other tips do leave a comment and let me know!

Sarah :)

4th April 2015: Update - new tip! 

After having to discombobulate (yes, I'm pretty sure that's a real word...) my daughter's desk over the weekend we discovered her printer had been quietly leaking blue ink, forming a massive pool of the stuff under itself. Glorious! So, after cleaning up the hateful mess I was once again faced with inky fingers. This time though, I reached for the toothpaste - and have to share this fabulous tip because it does work really well (and smells an awful lot nicer than bleach, etc).

I used whitening toothpaste (not sure if standard toothpaste will do the trick): rubbed it over the inky bits, left it to work for about a minute, then scrubbed with the nail brush. It cleaned off nearly all of it - I just have a little bit left in the cuticles of my nails, but then again, I was COVERED in the stuff, so I think that's pretty good going! So, whitening toothpaste is going to be my secret weapon for cleaning printer ink off my hands from now on.

Mmmm... minty fresh! ;)

Sarah x

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Put that light out! Living with an eco warrior child...

• Put that light out!
• Do you need the heating on that high?
• Have you thought about working in your coat?
• Have you heard of global warming..?
• It is actually possible to type with fingerless gloves on, you know.
• If you go without a bath or shower, it saves water and energy and money AND the planet…

These are just a few pearls of wisdom that fall regularly from my daughter’s mouth… And to be honest, although her nagging is a bit boring it does make me feel like a teenager again, so there’s an upside!

When I was her age the boot was very much on the other foot (see here for all the gory details about my childhood...) - and my parents were the ones with all those catchphrases. Now, as an adult, I’m hearing them all over again! I don’t mind really - I’m pleased she’s aware of these things - I just wish she didn’t turn out ALL the lights while I’m still in the room so that I end up walking around Scooby Doo style with my arms out in front of me.

And no, I’m not going to start working in my coat (call me a wastrel) - I shall stick with my little teeny-tiny fan heater, coupled with getting the dog to lay across my feet, and hope the planet survives.

Sarah x

Moving home... a year on

Unbelievably, the first anniversary of our move to our new home passed a couple of weeks ago! It's amazing to think that we've been here a whole year - boy, time flies...

In the time since we've moved in we've pretty much decorated from top to bottom, inside and out. It's a bit dispiriting when you spend ages making your old house look lovely before you put it on the market - and then find yourself having to get on the DIY train all over again when you move into your new home... But (I can say this now that the main part of the DIY journey is coming to an end!!), it HAS been worth it.

We've tamed the overgrown garden (so overgrown it had actually taken over the garage roof too), grassed, fenced, gazebo-repaired, planted and cleaned. And it's now actually a place where (next summer) we'll enjoy sitting out and having the odd BBQ and glass of wine.

We've put down new flooring, painted just about every room (just got the office left to do!), moved furniture around a million times and it's been worth all the aching backs and crunchy knee joints. Mostly!

I am so looking forward to the next year in our home - a year when we can actually spend some time enjoying the house properly, rather than planning the next project. A year when we won't be using paint charts as coasters in every room, and where we can wander into our local Homebase without the staff raising an eyebrow and saying, "back again, ha ha?!".

Home - as they say - Sweet Home!!
Sarah x

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• Home Sweet Home shelf blocks, £21.95
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Tight? Frugal? Penny Pinching? Money saving? Yep...

Does anybody else keep hold of used batteries just in case, you know, they might come back to life? No? Just me then…

I’ve got a drawer in my desk full of them - mainly because I once discovered that the battery that no longer made my toothbrush work still (weirdly) made my computer mouse work. Don’t ask me how I discovered this - it involved a fair bit of lazy "can’t be bothered to go downstairs" behaviour.

And whilst I was rearranging the batteries in the TV remote last night (because we all know that if you take them out, rub them Aladdin and his lamp style, and put them back in a different order you get another week out of them), it made me wonder if I’m a bit, well, tight?

For example, we need a new frying pan. Now, I don’t use the frying pan very often (it’s main action is seen on Pancake Day - and the odd egg for fried egg sandwiches when the late night munchies strike), so I don’t want to spend a fortune. Plus it has to live at the bottom of the cupboard with all the saucepans stacked on top, so it doesn’t get treated kindly. Therefore, by my reckoning it’s not worth spending a fortune on a new one. I’ve set myself a budget of £3.50. £3.99 at a push. So I’ve spent the last month in every shop that sells frying pans turning my nose up at them because they’re £4.99. (Well, for that pound I could buy a new pack of batteries - at least that’s what I’ve heard, I rarely buy them of course.)

And you know those plastic clippy things you use to seal plastic bags when you put them in the freezer? If I possibly can I don’t use mine - I always try to tie a knot in the bag or use those horrible fiddly wire ties that come with the bags. Why? Well, because the longer I don’t use the clippy things, the longer they’ll last. Obvious!

Am I coming across as a bit weird? Or am I striking a chord with anyone? Anyone??

I like to turning the heating down by just half a degree more if I can… and I don’t like throwing away slightly chipped mugs… and when I decant the handwash out of the bottle into the dispenser I leave it overnight to make sure every drop comes out… I keep trying to get ‘one more nails worth’ out of bald emery boards… I could go on.

It’s my Dad’s fault (see here for full details) - most definitely not mine. But on the upside, I’m not averse to splashing out a whole £4.50 on a bottle of wine sometimes, so I can be quite the spendthrift when the mood is upon me, oh yes siree bob!

Do you have any money saving (penny pinching) tips you can share? Say it loud: I’m tight and I’m proud!!

Sarah x

Top 10 Spring Cleaning Ideas (that you probably won’t have thought of!)

I don’t think I’ve ever actually done a ‘spring clean’ in my entire life - housework just seems an ongoing boulder that I’m constantly pushing along! But I have found a few little tips for you that you might find useful for your own personal housework boulder!:

1: Clean with Lemons - if you have burnt on food in your microwave, cut a lemon into quarters and pop it in a bowl of water. Pop the bowl into the microwave on high for a couple of minutes then leave it in there for a couple more. The steam will soften the crusty bits and make it easier to clean (and it will smell lovely too). Also, if you have stains on a chopping board you can rub lemon juice over it, leave for 20/30minutes, rinse off and it should clear the stains for you.

2: Shaving Foam gets stains out of carpets - I haven’t tried this one personally, but I have seen several sources that say this is great for getting rid of spots on the carpet. The foam breaks down grease - has to be the foamy kind though, don’t think gel would work!

3: Bread gets marks off walls - now this one I have tried, and it really does work: just rub a slice of bread over fingermarks on your walls and it will erase them for you.

4: Ice cubes and carpets - ice cubes can be used in two ways: for getting gum out (just hold it on the gum until it freezes then scrape it away), and also for curing dents in carpets when you shift furniture (just put an ice cube into the dent, then after it has melted comb the carpet pile back up).

5: Clean with Coke - great for getting burnt on bits out of pans (leave overnight and the acid in the coke will get to work).

6: Tumble Dryer sheets - if you use these you’ll know that they work well to remove static in your drying, which means they also work really well on things like TV screens, computer screens: in fact anywhere that attracts dust! They are also great for giving a gleam back to chrome items: kettles, light switches, etc. If you particularly like the smell of your washing when it comes out of the dryer you could also try popping a tumble sheet in your knicker drawer for that ‘just washed’ smell too!

7: Magic Erasers - I love these sponges, I always have a packet under the kitchen sink (and you can buy them in pound shops too, bargain!). My white kitchen sink often picks up stains, and sometimes even bleaching won’t brighten it - but rubbing down with one of these sponges works wonders. I’ve also used them on crayon marks on a roller blind, to clean shoes and trainers, to get scuff marks off laminate floors, to get rid of tea stains in cups (just remember to wash the cup thoroughly afterwards), cleaning inside the car - loads of places!

8: Toothbrushes - mix a paste of baking soda and water and use an old electric or battery powered toothbrush to get rid of the grime you get on grouting between tiles.

9: DIY Room Freshener - if your house is a bit - erm - whiffy, simmer a pan containing water, a sliced lemon or two and a sprig of rosemary on your hob. If the water evaporates before you’ve finished enjoying the luscious smell just top it up a bit.

And my best tip of all?

10: Delegate. Delegate, delegate, delegate - fair means or foul, bribery or corruption, strop or wheedle, beg or demand: get the rest of the household to chip in and help. No matter how short or tall they are!

So what are your cleaning tips? Have you got any little gems that you could share? Leave a comment and let me know, I’d love to hear from you!

Sarah :)

PS: an extra tip for you - not really cleaning related, but pretty useful: if you bake a sponge cake and want to prevent it from drying out, just pop a slice of bread on top of the un-iced cake when you put it in your cake box. It will keep the cake moist until you can get to ice (and eat) it!

The Top Ten Lists you SHOULD be writing...

I do like a good list - one full of things I can tick off. With ‘TO DO!!’ written across the top, numbers down the side, and a fair few slightly cheaty easily tick-offable things on there (think, ‘brush teeth’ or ‘post letters’). 

Sometimes though these lists can become a bit of a millstone around your neck. There often seems to be things on those lists that stay there longer than they should because you (let’s be honest) don’t really want to face them. So with this in mind I thought I’d write a list of potential lists that would be a pleasure to complete. Something a bit less ‘grind’ and a bit more ‘raise the spirits’!:

1. Places you have been that you loved, and places that you wish you could go

2. The best bits of the particular season we’re in right now

3. People who make you laugh and people who love you

4. Things that you would love to do if money was no object

5. The jobs you said you wanted to do when you were a child

6. The cutest/funniest things your children have ever said

7. Qualities of yourself and your life that you like and feel proud of

8. The ultimate dinner party guest list (they can be alive, dead, or mythical - doesn’t matter)

9. How you would spend a day if you had absolutely nothing to do

10. Acts of kindness that you have done in the past

There, aren’t those lists more fun than the ‘clean oven and bath dog’ kind?!

Sarah :)

Where did you last see it...?

Damn it woman, where are the biscuits?!

There’s a bit of sighing and cupboard door slamming going on in the kitchen. Coupled with a bit of mumbled, slightly put out, ‘Well I can’t see them…’.

You see, my husband is looking for a (packet of) biscuit(s) to go with his tea. I’ve told him there’s some nice oaty ones in the cupboard that I bought the other day. ‘Which cupboard?’, he asks - well, its hardly difficult given that our kitchen is only just about large enough to stand 2 adults with a joint BMI of under 10, and the cat would most certainly not withstand a swinging in it either. We have two food cupboards - one for savoury stuff, one for sweet. ‘In the sweet cupboard, on the left!’, I reply (whilst doing a bit of unsubtle eye-rolling). And still he can’t find them.

You see, there is a distinct way that my DH looks for things - basically, if it can’t be spotted the second (and I mean, THE SECOND) he starts to search, then it is officially lost. If he can’t find his socks in his sock drawer in under 1.2 nano seconds then I am called for to explain, A) where his socks are, and B) why they weren’t there a minute ago when he looked, or C) why do I hide them under his pants like that…

Of course, when its something important that is lost (think car keys, wallet, important paperwork, etc) it can become a little, erm, accusing in our household. Lot’s of me saying, ‘think about it methodically, where is it likely to be?’ and a fair bit of both of us saying, ‘Well, you had it last - no I didn’t, you did’ and ‘Well, where did YOU last have it?’. And it’s invariably a short hop and a jump to the full blown discussion as to the general tidiness of the house and why it is that only one of us is capable of putting things away properly whilst the other treats the place like a hotel (no prizes for guessing for who takes which role). It isn’t long before finding the lost item has taken second place to establishing firmly who is at fault for the aforementioned loss.

Mind you, I have to confess I have been known to freak out when I can’t find my glasses - ‘But they’ve got to be somewhere, I need them, I can’t drive without them, I’ve got to find them, it’s an emergency!’. Which is when I tend to get asked, ‘What, the ones on top of your head you mean..?’ (followed by smug face). Well, we all make mistakes, OK?

Now, where did I put that reminder about the car tax….

Sarah :)

Housework Horrors!

I was cleaning the oven the other day - a job I hate with a passion. I put it off and put it off and put it off, until it begins to become a daily obsession of avoidance. We spend a week or so eating dinners which can be cooked on the hob simply so that I can delay it just a bit longer. (Because once the spills get baked on enough in there, it makes your eyes sting when you heat it up…)

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not a slob. If you dropped by un-announced you won’t find anything too scary - there might be a pile of dirty washing on the kitchen floor, but at least it’s en-route to the washing machine and just waiting it’s turn for the spin cycle to end… You might not be able to see your face in the bathroom taps, but at least there won’t be any old plasters on the edge of the sink. If the dog is up to date with his haircut you probably won’t even see black fluff all over the carpet. No, my house, overall, isn’t bad. It’s quite respectable. (Most of the time.)

So while I was facing up to my demons and cleaning the oven, I was daydreaming about being rich enough to afford “staff”. Or even just “a woman who does” as they used to say. It was a friend who planted the seed in my head - it’s her birthday soon, and we were joking about wanting the “gift of not having to do housework”. But to be honest, while the idea might be lovely I’m not really sure I would want a domestic engineer in my life. It would be much too weird - on every level. Someone washing my knickers? No thanks! Someone cleaning my toilet? No! I’d even struggle taking my car to one of those valeting places that seem to be springing up in every Tesco car park. My car isn’t a festering pit, but then neither is it on first name terms with a Dust Buster. I do give the floor mats a good shake out every now and then though. But don’t put your hands in the cubby holes in the doors - you’re likely to come out with a fluffy half-sucked mint or a lolly stick stuck to you.

There are certain chores I could maybe farm out without too much problem. The hoovering and general dusting maybe. Floor mopping. Erm… struggling now. Oh, ironing I guess. But then Murray does that most weeks anyway so I wouldn’t really be gaining anything.

Anyway, maybe it’s just as well I’m not so wealthy I can afford to eat chocolates out of a heart shaped box while telling the cleaner I need them to de-fluff the under bed areas - I'm not sure that's really me to be honest (tad too much of a control freak).  My oven is sparkling now by the way and your eyes will stay pain-free if you ever pop round while I’m in the middle of a roast. But come soon to get the benefit.

Which housework jobs do you absolutely hate?

Sarah x

Quick and easy recipe: Tomato Soup

I've been making home made soup for many years now - they are (usually!) quick, easy and cheap. Plus my soups are often so hearty and filling that they can fill you up for a main course. I batch cook mine, making double quantities and freezing them - that way I've always got a standby dinner to hand that's almost instant after a quick defrost in the microwave!

This is one of my favourites which I make all the time and would love to share with you:

Easy Home Made Tomato Soup 

(for approximately 4-8 people, depending on the size of your bowls, the size of your people and the size of their appetite!)

Ingredients:
1kg tomatoes
1 or 2 Sweet Potatoes (normal white potatoes are fine too, although I think sweet potatoes add an extra sweetness and colour)
Vegetable Stock (I usually just use a stock cube, nothing fancy!)
Seasoning
Sugar
Approximately 50g butter

Peel and dice the potato, then melt the butter in a large saucepan. Throw the potatoes into the pan and stir about over a medium heat. Meanwhile, simply quarter the tomatoes (no need to peel or finely chop). Keep giving the potatoes a stir, then sling in the tomatoes. Give everything a stir and cover with vegetable stock - just enough to cover the vegetables, not too much. I like to add in a few grinds of pepper too. Bring everything to the simmer and let it bubble gently away for about 20-30 minutes until the potatoes are soft. You now need to process the soup - you can either use a food processor/blender, or a handheld blender. Give the soup a whizz until its is smooth, then pass it through a sieve to get rid of the tomato seeds. The soup will probably be quite thick so you'll need to smooth it through the sieve with a spoon - keep going until you've got about a desert-spoon of mulch left in the sieve. Warm the soup back up, and add 1 teaspoon of sugar. This sounds weird I know, but it takes away any bitterness and make the soup taste lovely and smooth. I don't usually add salt or anything else but you can if you like. If the soup is too thick add a little water until its the consistency you like.

You can fancy-schmancy the soup up with a few chopped herbs, or a swirl of cream would look pretty - but mostly we have ours simple and just served with some part-baked rolls from the oven. Yum!

What's your favourite soup recipe?

Sarah :)