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.

A SLOW SUNDAY MORNING FOR MAMA

Did you have a fab weekend? I really bunkered down at home staying super local with a slow Sunday morning for mama, enjoying the pops of sun we've been getting in Bristol *hails all the weather gods* and thankfully finishing the last of antibiotics – hurrah! 

Normally there's nothing better than heading out for a good brunch full of my favourite eats, but at home I tend to skip breakfast or grab a piece of fruit before starting the day. So as an early mother's day treat *any excuse right ;) I decided to whip up some Ranch Eggs, Italian coffee and fresh juice. I've been really wanting to try this recipe out at home for a while now and I must admit it is sooo tasty. 

There's something so lovely about setting the table and taking time to savour the morning, to sit and share stories with my boy. As I'm flying solo on Mother's Day due to Paul's clashing work schedule, I'm grabbing any excuse to take it easy and enjoy being pampered, cue all the flowers and coffee ;) It's so easy to take this role for granted, I know I often look back at all the little things my mam did for me in a new light, and wonder if the kiddo will feel the same when he has a family of his own.

There's still time to be spoilt this Mother's Day with wonderful gifts, I've already dropped a hint or two, but certainly one of my favourite gifts is waking up to my kiddo's cheeky little face as he gets excited to show me his handmade card and crinkly wrapped presents.

The ranch eggs went down a treat and it was all smiles from the boy in his pj's as we tucked in to brunch, before getting dressed and taking a stroll around the neighbourhood.

What's your idea of a perfect slow Sunday? Do you enjoy breakfast at home without the fuss or hanging out in a cool cafe?

*This post is in partnership with Debenhams.

A PERFECT SUNDAY MORNING // INTERIOR INSPIRATION

Those perfect Sunday mornings are few and far between, long gone are the days of endless lie-ins and indulgent hours spent day dreaming between the sheets, while sipping coffee and flicking through the pages of a good magazine. It’s crazy how you take such a simple act for granted. In those younger and seemingly naive years, I never saw an end to these simple pleasures, instead I whiled away the hours without much appreciation and then... BHAM! There is a small person who is not that up for me having an hour to wake up slowly on my own. Nope, it’s all about loud shouts demanding cornflakes and transformers, and any visions of sipping coffee in the comfort of my bed turns into the reality of avoiding lego, while blindly making my way bare foot through the obstacle course he’s created between me and the kettle. Thankfully he’s a cutie so it’s sweetens the deal :)

So when the lovely folks over at Loaf sent me a Lazy Linen Bundle, made of super-soft crushed Belgian linen, I jumped at the chance to indulge in a slow Sunday and enjoy a morning to myself wrapped in my luxuruious new bedding. I chose the dusty pink duvet and complimented it with a light grey sheet and pillowcase –  which start from £15 – and spruced up my king sized bed. The natural fibres are great, they keep you cool in summer and warm in winter and I love that you don't need to iron them as it's all about the natural crumpled look. That's a win win right there! Is it just me or is there something really satisfying about fresh new sheets or am I just showing my age?

So when this morning rolled round and the boys headed out into the rain, I bunked down with a freshly brewed cup of Arabica coffee, my favourite banana pancakes with maple syrup and one of my many ‘to read’ mags that lines my bedside table…oh pure bliss!

If you are a fan of pancakes but have any diary or gluten intolerance than these are the perfect snack and are super simple to make. All you need is: 1 Banana, 2 Eggs and some natural coconut oil.

To make:

• Mash up a banana in a bowl.
• Next whisk in two eggs until it looks like pancake batter.
• Add a teaspoon of coconut oil to a frying pan and heat.
• Pour a small golf ball sized dollop of pancake batter.
• Use a spatula to flip over and cook both sides and repeat.
• Serve with Canadian Maple syrup and enjoy!

I served it straight onto a wooden board to give that hotel feel and make my breakkie that little bit special and enjoyed eating it in bed, yep folks it's all about doing it for yourself. I even had time to catch up on a few of my favourite bloggers posts, write this post *insert shocked emoticon face here* and slip into the depths of pintrest for more bedroom interior inspiration.

Loaf's founder Charlie Marshall has kindly shared some bedroom styling tips to help you create your own sanctuary at home.

1)  Choose a natural bed linen - it's breathable and keeps you cool. Crushed Belgian linens work a treat as you don't have to spend hours ironing too!

2) Throw the windows open, draw your curtains or blinds right back and make the best of the natural light. A nice large mirror will help to keep the natural light bouncing around the room.

3) Flowers instantly lift a room! Spend a tenner on some freshly cut blooms and display them in old jam jars. Cheap as chips too!

4) Declutter the area around your bed and keep only the essentials on your bedside table for a calm sleep space.

I've also been watching the lovely Heather at Home vlogs and checking out her tips for decluttering, getting organised and coming up with fun interior ideas. I'm determined to make my space the perfect retreat that can enjoyed all day round, rather than snatching a moment here or there amongst the chaos. What would be your perfect Sunday morning?

I hope you've had a relaxing morning and a fab weekend! x

A SLOW WEEKEND AND GOOD FOOD

Looking back at August, it has been a hectic busy month with long hours of solo parenting, punctuated by weekends away, birthday celebrations, work deadlines, train journeys and more. It seems more and more that there is always a list of things to do by the time saturday rolls around and weekends are rarely spent lounging in pyjamas, slowly sipping coffee while browsing books and magazines, pottering and baking, and mainly being cosy at home.

So the weekend before last we decided to go slow. We woke up with books in bed, sipping hot tea and F bouncing into our room, taking our time to get dressed and ready for the day. We wrapped presents and walked over to our friends son's birthday party where we ate cake a plenty and sat on the floor, watching the youngest child practise her walking skills before heading onto lunch in the village.

We were invited  to Zizzi Bristol to try out their new menu, I love the restaurant in Clifton Village with it's huge mirror tiled walls and huge pizza oven. We got stuck into delicious garlic bread and olives, along with a cheeky vino while F busied himself with the important job of colouring in the menu.

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OUR URBAN PLAYGROUND

Earlier this week we stepped outside into the first real frost I've seen this winter. We were met by neighbours dutifully scraping their windshields, condensation rapidly evaporating with each breath, beautiful and blinding winter sun shining down as we cautiously shuffled forward, slippery underfoot.

After being cooped up in the house for most of last week due to F being ill, I was determined to get a little fresh air and stretch my legs, even if it was only for a venture round the block. After a few moments of toddler stubbornness and F refusing to get up off the step, we left our street and took a stroll. I love taking walks, normally I love strolling through the woods, surrounded by the rich green trees or wandering shoeless along the shore, toes wriggling down into sand with every step, but there is something to be said about an urban walk.

For me it isn't just tree lined streets with fancy houses, set back with their beautifully presented gardens that grabs my attention. Often it is the gritty, unloved areas that are most interesting. Where plants push their way through paving cracks and spill onto the streets unnoticed,  small graffiti marks tucked away in shy places, left for someone as a secret. The strong contrasts of cement, tarmac, brick and cobbles wash together to create a landscape waiting to be discovered. Normally in these places we tend to overlook our surroundings, these bricks, the same as yesterday hold no importance when running for a bus or popping out to get milk. So to take a slow walk – toddler speed – and breathe it all in is refreshing. I am an observant person by nature and visually take a lot in: shapes, colour, light, but to visit it through a child's eyes in the morning sun was as lovely as the cool blue sea.

The trick to seeing all this beauty, the mix of green nature versus mankind's grey, is one word. SLOW. Who am I to rush this boy when he wants to peer into puddled water, green algae, decomposing leaves, painted hearts, tangled weeds, faded numbers? If I can not stop to appreciate the small things then how will I ever realise when the big things are standing right in front of me?

This is our urban playground.