wooden pallet love affair...

I have a real love for things that look rustic and natural and I love the idea of reusing and making something new and exciting from something that was probably destined for the dump. As I've been travelling for a quite a while now I'm beginning to look forward to finding somewhere to call home for a little bit longer then a few months. I know it's a way off yet but once we do settle somewhere I want to have all my ideas ready to go. Recently I have seen a few photos of wooden pallets being reused so decided to do a bit more investigating into this and love what I found.

A super cosy low sofa made of pallets. This would be perfect for a snug area. Piled high with comfy cushions.

I love the look of these beds. They look really rustic and loved.

What a cute little table. The glass and wheels made it look quite modern too while still being really functional.

I love the legs on this little foot stool. A perfect place to store some books and magazines too.

This kitchen table is so beautiful. I love the different colours and how they all work so nicely together. This is definitely a table to have dinner parties around.

How cool does this chandelier look? It has that stripped back warehouse feel that is really popular right now. I love how the lights are hung at different levels too.

This feature wall is amazing. Again I love how all the different colours work so well together. Each piece of wood has a different story to tell.

I'm feeling pretty inspired by all these pictures. Going to need to stock up on some pallets when I get back from travelling. A few DIY projects on the horizon I think.

cosy cobbler...

This is a recipe me and my friend found to test out some new bakers that were being produced at work. If I remember correctly I think we ate the whole thing that night but did bake another one for an office birthday party that was being held the next day so we could share our triumph. It is so delicious and really easy to make and light on the washing up too.

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup milk
2 tins of peach slices
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Ground cinnamon, nutmeg or a vanilla pod

1. Preheat the oven to 180° celcius, gas mark 4.
2. Melt the butter in a large oven proof baker.
3. Combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, the baking powder and the salt in a bowl.
4. Add the milk, stirring just until dry ingredients have all been combined.
5. Pour the batter over the melted butter but do not stir.
6. Bring the remaining 1 cup of sugar, the peach slices and the lemon juice to the boil over a high heat while stirring constantly.
7. Remove from the heat and pour over the batter in the baker and again do not stir.
8. Sprinkle with cinnomon or nutmeg if desired. I tend to prefer nutmeg or even add some vanilla to the milk for a super luxurious taste.
9. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown.

You can serve the cobbler warm or cool and I love to add a big scoop of vanilla icecream on top. Delicious.

choco banana toasties...

I love toasties. They are always a massive winner with me. I remember when we were young and I'd come home from horse-riding and it would be so cold in the winter and toasties would always hit the spot and warm my fingers too.

I'm a sucker for a ham, cheese and mushroom toasty as I love mushrooms with everything. Sometimes it's a struggle for me not eat them all raw before I even manage to cook them.

I also love any toasty with leftover turkey or chicken, add some cheese and onion, maybe a few mushys too. mmmmm yummy. Toasties are such a great way to use up all those odds and ends in the fridge too which is another one of my favourite things to do. Clean out the fridge and slap it all between two slices of bread. Delicious.

I've tried a variety of toasty combinations but all were savoury until I discovered this little gem. Great as a breakfast toasty, or a kind of healthy snack too.

Choco Banana Toasties

Ingredients:
4 slices of bread
1 Banana, cut into slices
Nutella

This one probably doesnt need any instructions but here we go, make a banana and nutella sandwich and toast until golden and gooey. Leave to cool for a moment or so as the nutella can get very hot and you don't want a burnt mouth. Nothing worse.

Cut up and enjoy. Yummy. Perfect with a mug of hot chocolate on a cold winters night snuggled up watching a movie.

parka power...

It's parka season, Autumn in Europe and Spring in Australia and a parka is the perfect piece to have in your wardrobe to get you through. I have worn mine all winter here as Melbourne is a little milder than London so didn't need to invest in yet another winter coat and I don't plan on retiring it just yet. Paired with jeans and a cosy knit, or over shorts and a t-shirt, with a cute floral dress and some chunky tights, add some ankle boots and you really can't go wrong.

There are so many options out there now this really is the year of the parka. There are lots of different colours available from khaki hues to greys and blacks and browns and even a few brights out there too and if you want it to keep you going through winter you can even invest in something with a bit of thickness and warmth to it, or even better one with a removeable inner coat. mmmm cosy. Parkas come back year after year so don't be afraid to invest in something you really like.