Author: Alphe

How To Clean Seashells

I’ve recently spent 2 weeks in Croatia on a miraculous family holiday. Miraculous, because we booked it in November last year and after the pandemic started for good, I doubted it would go ahead. Luckily, I was able to see my family for the first time after 6 months and spent a fortnight in a small Croatian village, away from the crowds, which was certainly safer than living a normal life in London.

One of my favourite things to do on the beach is collecting seashells. I’d get bored to death if I was to just sunbathe for hours and I don’t particularly enjoy swimming in the sea, but walking on the shore or in the shallow water, looking for seashells and live sea creatures can keep me busy for days. Yet again I came back home with heavy bags of seashells, and I immediately proceeded to clean them.

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Quick Couscous Carrot Chicken Stir Fry

You feel hungry, open the fridge and realise there isn’t much to work with. Sounds familiar? That’s how I came up with this recipe – the recipe that’s now, about 5 years later, a staple in my family. Sometimes made because the fridge is empty and no one has gone to the supermarket, but sometimes made because it’s quick and we genuinely like it.

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Red Velvet Cake with Blue Strawberry Frosting

Red velvet cake… with a twist? I wanted to attempt making the iconic cake for the first time, after eating it on a few occasions. Sadly, bright red cake with white cream cheese frosting isn’t a realistic, good idea anymore if you’re short on red food colouring and bake for someone with a white food phobia. The twists were a must. I found a recipe and adjusted it slightly – the final result exceeded my expectations!

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How To Draw A Mandala

In recent years, mandalas significantly grew in popularity. Loads of arts and crafts ideas use mandala patterns, they can make spectacular, abstract designs in drawings and paintings. There are mandalas printed on T-shirts, mandala wallpapers and even mandala tattoos are more and more common. I’ve written about the trivia of the patterns of Asian origin before. Today, I’ll share a step by step tutorial to drawing a perfect mandala from scratch.

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Iced Berries

This recipe is one of my favourite discoveries of 2020. Extremely quick and easy to make, and I usually have all the ingredients available at home anyway. Perfect as a refreshing dessert in summer, but I can definitely see myself making it in winter as well.

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Painted Midnight Wooden Bookmark

The project from today’s post is one of those I’d had on my list for ages. I bought some plain wooden bookmarks two or three years ago, with the intention to paint them one day, and never got round to actually doing it. Not until now, that is. I finally decided to fish the bookmark out of my huge box of craft supplies and have a go at painting it with acrylics.
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London Parks – Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill

Continuing with the London Parks series, after Ruskin Park, West Ham Park and St James’s Park, I’m taking you to Regent’s Park and the nearby Primrose Hill. Located in central-north London, it’s one of the eight Royal Parks in London. It’s named after Prince Regent, who later become king George IV. It’s home to diverse flora and fauna, as well as the London Zoo.

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Strawberry Banana Milkshake

Smoothies are undeniably one of my favourite things about summer. Fresh, delicious and healthy, work perfectly as a fix for my sweet tooth. Amongst all the smoothies there’s one I love more than any other. The classic, the one and only, strawberry and banana milkshake.

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Stress Relief – Circle Numbers Colouring Book

Stress relief is definitely something worth attention in current times. Stress relief methods that we can do at home to kill some time? Even better! Over two years ago I posted about adult colouring books and recommended them as a way to relax at home. Recently, I came across an interesting colouring book with a twist. I’ve tried it and it’s really fun!

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Healthy Oven Baked Chips – Potato Wedges

Potato chips – also known as fries across the pond – are undoubtedly one of the most famous foods around the world. Served in fast food restaurants and often as a side in posh places. Chips made at home don’t taste that great though, especially if you don’t have a deep frying machine. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a delicious potato side at home! This recipe was perfected by my mum and it’s one of my favourite sides. A cross between chips and roasted potato wedges that will enhance many dinner ideas.

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