BAKE THIS EASY AUTUMN SWEET POTATO PIE RECIPE

Hello November! The clocks have changed and it finally feels like those cosy autumn days are settling in, and with it hopefully our new routine. This last year has felt like a world of busy with lots of highs and lows, but with the stillness that winter brings I think I'm finally ready to embrace some seasonal slowness. One of my favourite things to do in autumn afternoons is create in the kitchen, baking warming food to fill little bellies, so I thought I would share this easy autumn sweet potato pie that is perfect for little ones and adults alike.

AUTUMN WALKS AND FALL COLOURS

As each season comes into play I happily announce my love for it, but nothing quite gives me that warm glowing feeling and fills my heart like autumn. The burnt ochres, reds and golden yellows fill the sky and pave the ground, crunching underfoot as F squeals in delight. Although this is the transition to winter, to darker filled days and low light, it does mean the excitement of Christmas will soon be setting in as well as hot spicy cider and mulled wine with friends *yay*.

At the weekend we took a walk, it's the same walk we take every year along the avenue of trees beside Clifton Down Road. I love this little stretch, I took the same stroll soon after F was born, him gazing up under the canopy of fall colours and autumn leaves. Now it's a rather more boisterous event with screeches of breaks as he zooms up and down on his bike, squeals as he runs to avoid thrown leaves and generally had fun as I gaze upon my growing boy.

My autumn wishlist for long walks are cosy boots, perfect for stomping through leaves and I love these stylish kids boots c/o Clarks. Even though they have a lace up front which makes him feel like a big boy, he can easily slip them on and off with the zip up sides, plus they're super comfy. I've already been coveting some of the women's boots and love these quirky Desert Boots and these slick Phenia Cresent boots.

F has started choosing his own clothes when we go into stores and it's interesting to see his style start to emerge without any input from us. He chose this zip up top from H&M and looks like such a dude in this pic!

As much as I love the outdoors I've been really feeling the need to bunker down and hibernate, to be close to home with slow walks for coffee, sit round friends dining tables and share good food, cosy sofa afternoons and general cuddles with my little one. In all honestly I've lost my mojo and been feeling a little down, like baby blues without the baby. I've been taking my time to just be and get all the busy out my head, so apologies that it's been so sporadic over here. For now I'm going to carve pumpkins, drink hot coco, take long walks, watch films, listen to music, get a bit crafty and enjoy the rest of the week before I have to hand F back over to the school timetable.

In case you were interested in our style you can see what I wore here:
Yellow Coast Waterproof Jacket c/o Joules
Louche Aria Leather bag c/o Joy

And what F wore here:
Hooded Jacket - H&M
Day Hi GTX Boots c/o Clarks

For a little more autumn inspiration I've created a board full of ideas, interiors and moods reflecting the changing season. What is your favourite autumnal pastime?

JOULES PRESS DAY AUTUMN/WINTER 2015

What better way to ease myself into a new month than reminiscing over the Joules Autumn/Winter 2015 Press show. I love heading to press shows, it's one of my favourite perks of my job especially when it's a brand I love and I can share it with you lovely lot.  So a few weeks ago I headed over to London with an excited F in tow to see what would be on trend next season and I wasn't disappointed.  Think stripes, florals, denim and pops of neon, and that's just the clothes! 

The main room had been set up with huge breakfast table laid with a full english and neon Joules branded condiments, which F was convinced you could eat! There was also nutribullet juice bar making smoothies/keeping F happy while I cooed over the new home ware range, think traditional country style served with a modern twist, breathing a new life into your home.

I love the words used to describe the A/W collection, it sounds like the perfect way to welcome the changing seasons and embrace the winter months, especially when wrapped in the softest of fabrics.

Relax. Head outside. Open Air. Unwind. falling Leaves. Switch off. Swirling Winds. Refreshed. New.

F's highlight was the chicken coop where he spent a lot of time entertaining himself by rearranging the neon hens, much to the amusement of the kind folk at Joules who indulged so I could get my camera out and take some snaps of the new collection.

 I particularly loved the bright stripes in the kids range making winter outdoor play fun, and the women's jackets look set to keep you warm and stylish, oh and these boots! It looks like Joules has winter wrapped up, but did we expect anything less? *Nope* 

What's on your winter wish list?

STYLING THE SEASONS // OCTOBER

I'm not quite sure where this month has gone, but somehow November is a few days away, my boy has tuned four, pumpkins have been carved for tomorrow's fun and I have realised that I've haven't got round to posting my Styling the Season for October – whoops! So rather than let it pass by and rock on with November's styling challenge, I was determined to document this month at home.

October for me is all about change, the leaves turn, F gets that little bit older, the nights draw in and the the cool breeze demands coats and chunky knits. At home it's all about baking biscuits and making heart warming soups, lazy mornings spent under blanket reading books and sipping coffee (when I can grab the chance) and collecting treasures from outdoors.

So I baked some woodland animal butter biscuits, printed an autumn inspired tea towel with F, got out my vintage coffee set and had some fun with this beautiful Herringbone throw. What do you think?

To get involved all you need to do is share your photographs of your styled surface on any day this month – use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or your blog, if you have one. Please tag Katy and Charlotte and use the hashtag #StylingTheSeasons. You can also search the hashtag for styling inspiration from the other wonderful bloggers and creatives who are taking part.

You can check out my September post here. I can't wait to take a peek at your November.

WIN A BUG POUFFE FROM LOAF

I've got an exciting giveaway on the blog for you today from the brilliant Loaf.  I really love their selection of beautifully designed products and chic style which mixes a range of materials together to create the perfect look for your home. After browsing their website this Poste Coffee Table caught my eye with its industrial legs and reclaimed wood surface, I can't help thinking that this is the perfect place to rest my coffee and would look great in our lounge. 

With those autumn nights drawing in and my thoughts turning to winter, I'm all about making my home as snuggly as possible, think chunky knit blankets, home baked cookies, hot chocolates and feet up in front of a feel good film. So I am really pleased that Loaf are offering my readers the chance to win this beautiful Bug Pouffe worth £85. 

Loaf’s hand-knitted rope Bug pouffes are exceptional. Not only do they look cute, but they are hardy friends ideal for feet, bums and…children to leap from! Available in a choice of three colours with Raspberry, Rhino and Ash Grey. All you have to do is enter any/all of the options below for your chance to win. 

Good luck. x

*T&C Giveaway will run for two weeks and the winner will be drawn by random using rafflecopter on the 10th November. All entries will be verified. Prize will include one Loaf Hand-Knitted Rope Bug Pouffe  worth the value of £85. This is not exchangeable. By entering you are signing up to the Wild & Grizzly E-newsletter. Open worldwide. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

F WEARS // AUTUMN TREASURES

Jumper: Mango
Jeans: Zara
Shoes: Clarks

I always get sucked in by summer, thinking this is by far my favourite season and then autumn quietly approaches and woo's me all over again. The leaves sing with colour with their flaming reds, earthy browns, burnt ochres, bright yellows and mottled greens as the they slowly change and fall.

Last weekend was one of those perfect days, mild and the sunlight streaming down, casting a magical glow in Clifton. Raring to get outdoors, F wore his new jumper kindly sent to us by the lovely folk at House of Fraser and played amongst the rocks and trees in search for natures treasure.

We spent a good few hours collecting conkers, playing with sticks, climbing and generally messing about outside with F happy to be free of a coat and wearing his favourite colour. I really love the teal detailing on this jumper, especially when paired with grey jeans. Eventually when F tired we headed for a hot chocolate and laid out our treasures. 

Have your little ones been enjoying the change in season?

BASKET STORAGE FOR AUTUMN

Image via here 

Now the transitional season is in full swing and a crisp breeze is in the air, it's time to make a shift at home and create a cosy space. If you're like me, you'll find that soon the bed throws will be pulled out of cupboards to soothe cold toes and extra layers are needed to keep snuggly at night.

Rather than go full sprint into winter, autumn gives us a chance to play around with the spaces we live in most. October should be a time to go slow and embrace the seasonal shift, to let our bodies and minds adjust to the dark mornings and nights ahead.

An easy way to add an element of cosy to your home is to use baskets filled with snuggly blankets, cushions or throws. Not only does this create a welcoming touch for visitors popping round, but like a new mother nesting, it prepares us for winter. These woven baskets are ideal, their earthy tones and natural fibres give a sense of warmth and would look great by the side of a sofa, fireplace or bookshelf to emphasise the cosiness of your home.

I'm lusting over these Paniers Boule Ball baskets and this House of Rym blanket for winter.  If you want to add a personal touch then why not try your hand at dip dying a basket, creating a colour scheme that works with your interior.

What helps you prepare for the winter months?

For more inspiration why not check out my Interiors Pinterest Board here.

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F: A touch of autumn

There's a hint of change in the air as temperatures slightly shift and that certain glow signifying the end of summer starts to set in. I know it's been a bit quiet here this last week, but with a stretch of solo parenting and new school routines it has been good for me to step away from the screen. 

This week I asked my folks to step in and take F for a day or two, and although there were long lists to do and deadlines to finish, I wanted the time to do nothing; to hang out, drink coffee when I want, read magazines, stay in bed, see friends and stay up late. There's nothing like a bit of solo time to kick back and relax.

Next Friday is the MAD Blog Awards 2014 ceremony in Kensington, London where this little blog is a finalist for the Best Family Fun award. *Squeal* So next week there's going to be a bit of pampering in the run up to the ceremony and trying to find that perfect mama style. 

Linking up with The 52 Project

AUTUMN PAVED WITH GOLD

Me and F have been taking a short break from city life and hanging out at my folks in the countryside for a few days to break up a solo parenting stint. Apart from the slightly sleepless nights my end – due to a certain toddler not buying into my idea of bed sharing equality – it's been quite fun spending time together. My head has been out of sorts the last few days, so what could be better than a change of scenery I say.  Yesterday we spent the afternoon chilling out, taking a stroll and playing around in piles of golden leaves.

Oh Autumn you rock.

NATURE IN THE HOME - COLLECTED TREASURES

Crisp and crunchy underfoot, we walk on a carpet of leaves, your hand clutching mine. Occasionally you'll pull away to plough through a pile of gold, scattering the leaves with a roar. The dappled light pushes through the trees and catches you as we weave along the path. You bend down to collect your treasures, pockets brimming while I collect these memories of autumn walks shared. These are my treasures to hold dear.

Joining in with the lovely Lou's Nature in the Home series, here is a pocket full of autumn. 

A GOOD BOOK // Where Do We Go When We Disappear

 

It's not often that a book comes along tackling a serious philosophical topic in such a stunning way. As a big fan of the dream duo Isabel Minhos Martins and Madalena Matoso, I've been sitting on this book all week desperate to share it with you. The only problem is there are so many stunning pages it was hard selecting which ones to post from this good book.

Where Do We Go When We Disappear takes a beautiful poetic approach to tackling the subject of death, drawing on the world around us to illustrate ideas and propose answers to a question often asked.  It is a magical way to introduce a difficult concept to a child; do we evaporate like puddle, do we fade like noise or perhaps we go to the same place as lost socks? By linking it to daily events it is easier for a child to draw parallels, while the book also asks questions of an adult, challenging their perceptions and ideas.

If we disappear and nobody notices,

then we don't actually disappear.

Because for someone to disappear, 

they have to be missed.

Beautifully written and with such striking visuals this is a must for every child. The illustrations alone would make fantastic artwork for a kids room and it is not often that a book brings a tear to my eye. 

Linking in with the lovely Tigerlilly Quinn

HELLO YOU BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND YOU

Image Source

It's a beautiful blustery autumn day and the sun is shining. We're getting wrapped up and heading down to Bristol docks to set off on an imaginary adventure on the SS Great Britain. F will probably be the first dinosaur to set foot on the ship and I'll be looking forward to a hot cup of builders tea.

I hope you have you have a great weekend x

SIMPLE BRAMBLE BLACKBERRY JAM

After reliving a childhood pastime and foraging for wild blackberries last week, I promised F we would spend a rainy day making jam like my nanna used to. Being a total jam novice, I quickly scoured the internet for some easy recipes that we could get stuck into and found a world of jam enthusiasts out there with flavours to match. So after spending a good twenty minutes reading whether added Pectin is good or bad I decided to take a simple recipe and wing it – as always.

For delicious simple bramble blackberry jam, you'll need:

900g fresh blackberries
900g white granulated sugar
50ml water
juice of half a lemon

1. Rinse the blackberries in cool water and remove any stalks that might be left over.
2. Place in a bowl and leave in the fridge to macerate over night.
3. Place the berries, lemon juice and water into a large heavy based pan and bring to the boil.
4. Lower the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until softened.
5. Crush the remaining blackberries with a potato masher and add in the sugar.
6. Slowly heat, stirring at all times until the sugar has dissolved.
7. Bring to a full rolling boil so the surface bubbles and it thickens. Boil for 8 minutes.
8. Remove any residue bubbles off the surface and get ready to transfer into your jam jars.
9. I used my dishwasher on an intensive wash to sterilise my jars and timed it with cooking, however you could submerge your jars in a pot of boiling water for ten minutes.
10. Ensure the jars are hot when pouring in the jam, wipe the edges and seal.
11. Store in a cool dry place.

Nothing like hot buttery toast and jam to keep away those winter blues.