Author: Alphe

High Protein Tomato And Basil Soup – Comfort Meals For Winter

After an incredibly generous summer, we’ve now seen a few autumnal weeks here in London. This time of year, I’m particularly drawn to soups. There’s something comforting about a bowl of warming, well seasoned soup. Today, I’d like to share with you my recipe for tomato and basil soup. In a basic version, it’s the most flavourful, delicious tomato and basil soup I’ve had. Add a couple more ingredients, and it turns into a rich, creamy meal rich in protein and fibre. I made this soup when I was feeling a bit under the weather and it really hit the spot. Perfect for cold, rainy days!

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An Afternoon In Bellinzona, Switzerland – Castles, Michelin Star Lunch

A couple of weeks ago, I had an opportunity to visit Switzerland for the very first time. One of my best friends, whom I met in London, got married in her home country ‐ specifically, in Bellinzona, a town in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. I was able to explore Bellinzona for a few hours, and I loved it – the views were stunning, the town is beautiful, and I even found a cute cat to pet. I also ate in a Michelin star restaurant for the first time in my life. Here’s how I spent an afternoon in Bellinzona, Switzerland.

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DIY Mini Cross Stitch Kit – Skull With Flowers – Halloween Crafts

Happy spooky month! I feel like it’s now officially acceptable to start celebrating the Halloween season. Well, frankly, Halloween isn’t that huge in the UK, to my surprise. Still, there are some seasonal sweets and home decorations in the stores, and I enjoy a holiday period, no matter the holiday! So naturally, in October, I usually like to do some Halloween themed crafts or cook themed recipes. This time, I completed a mini cross stitch project featuring a skull with colourful flowers. Probably more in the style of Dia de los Muertes rather than Halloween, but the two are celebrated at the same time of year. So, here’s the first of this year’s Halloween DIY projects!

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How To Start Cross Stitching – Full Guide – Everything You Need To Know

Today, I’m bringing you a cross stitch guide for beginners – the type of guide I would have loved to have when I first started cross stitching. In this post, I will cover everything you need to know to successfully complete a cross stitch project. I’ll take you through the various tools used for cross stitching, I’ll show you how to prepare the thread for sewing and how to place the first stitches. I will also cover the most commonly made mistakes and give you ideas for the best cross stitch projects for beginners. If you’d like to start cross stitching but aren’t sure how to start – this post is just for you!

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New Year’s Resolutions 2025 – 9 Month Check In

It’s hard to believe, but we’re now approaching the final quarter of 2025. Back in January, I made a list of New Year’s Resolutions for 2025, with a variety of goals, ranging from fitness to crafts and education. I’ve already shared a post with my 3-month progress and a 6-month check-in. Today, I’m returning with a 9-month report, the final one before the end-of-year summary. As expected, there have been some ups and downs, but the crucial thing is that I’m still working on this year’s resolutions, and haven’t given up.

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Mini Botanical Cross Stitch Designs – RHS – July, August, September

Earlier this year, I bought a box of 12 mini cross stitch kits – one for each month of the year – all with botanical designs, inspired by the plant collection of the Royal Horticultural Society. I had seen that set in various shops, usually priced around £20, which – in my opinion – is quite a lot for a cross stitch set, even one with several designs. But one day, I found that same set in TKMaxx, for just £9.99. Now that’s a bargain! I decided to complete each design in its designated month. I already shared the completed mini projects for the previous quarter. Today, I’m bringing you the next trio: designs for July, August and September. I enjoyed cross stitching the rose, sunflower and dahlia and I think they all turned out pretty cute!

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A Day In West London – Marble Hill, Ham House, Richmond Park

Saturday day trips are one of my favourite things in life. I love visiting new towns, but I also like to explore new places in London. Although I’ve lived in the British capital for over 6 years now, there are still many places I haven’t been to. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to spend a day in west London. Living on the east side of the city, I don’t often go all the way to the other end. I decided to visit two beautiful estates: Marble Hill and Ham House, and then had a walk around one of my favourite parks in London: Richmond Park. If you’re looking for things to do in west London, here’s how I spent a day there.

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London In Photos – Summer 2025 – Parks, Exhibitions, Wildlife

This year, we’ve been blessed with an amazing summer here in London. Stereotypical English weather, with rain every day? Forget about it! It’s been sunny and warm pretty much since April, with very few showers and several heatwaves. In fact, I feel like it’s been one of the longest summers in my life, and I’m actually ready for autumn. Because of the drought and hot weather, dry leaves are already falling from the trees like crazy. The weather took a bit of a turn within the last week, and I don’t even mind the cooler days. So, it feels like the perfect time to look back at the summer of 2025. Here are some photos from London and other parts of the UK!

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DIY Crocheted Cherry Bookmark Set – Learning To Crochet

One of my New Year’s resolutions for this year was to learn to crochet – or at least learn the basics, for now. I’ve managed to make really good progress over the last few months, successfully completing several projects. Most recently, I crocheted a bookmark with cute cherries and a tassel. I used an assorted kits for this project, but frankly – you can easily replicate it yourself if you know the basics of crocheting. I will include some tips for that. Unfortunately, the kit itself wasn’t great and I had to make some adjustments. For that reason, it turned out to be a bit of a challenge for my beginner skills, but I managed to figure it out, and the final result is quite cute.

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Mini DIY Cross Stitch Set – Peacock

My cross stitching journey continues, with no end in sight. Who would have thought that a tiny cross stitch kit that I bought a couple of years ago – and found immensely confusing at the start – would turn into a huge hobby of mine? Despite dozens of completed projects, I still enjoy cross stitching. I find it relaxing, and love seeing the designs come to life. This time, I finished a small design featuring a colourful peacock. The pattern and all of the supplies came from an assorted cross stitch kit, and the project was a success.

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