Love this #74: Made in Uganda

April 13, 2017

You'll know that I'm a recent convert to Homesense following the gloriously fake bouquet of peonies I shared earlier in the year, well today I'm sharing something completely different from their sister store TK Maxx. I've shopped there occasionally and have had great success with Christmas decorations and notebooks, but until now their homewares haven't tempted me into the store.

But this "Made in Uganda" range could be doing just that, and I'll tell you why. When I read the press release my eye was taken by the vibrant and colourful designs, you'll know I'm a fan of colour, but it wasn't just that there seemed to be something more to these items - and I wasn't wrong.

I discovered that TK Maxx has been working with the Rwenzori Trading Company since 2008 and since then have enabled more than 10,000 children to go to school, and every purchase made in the UK goes towards providing skills and employment so parents can support their families and send children to school. There's much more about the work they do, and the products on sale in the stores on the TK Maxx website - and there's plenty more gorgeous items there too.

So if you're looking for some colourful and relatively inexpensive homewares, then these are definitely worth a look. And what's more you'll be helping to make the world a better place too.

I've already spotted some large horn bowls in the press release, which sadly I haven't been able to find a picture of, nor have I been able to find them in my local store either. I've seen though that another store that's not *too* far away is a stockist for these items, so I've a feeling I may be heading their way to take a closer look.

And hopefully I'll leave with the bowls that caught my eye. Or maybe a basket or two, because I'm sure they're like notebooks in once you have them, their use becomes apparent.

What do you think of the range?

* This is a collaborative post, but all views are my own

Fun storage jars by Alessi from Red Candy

April 12, 2017

On Sunday my post Spring and new routines touched on some of the changes I'm making right now, and how my Spring cleaning is more of a Spring rearranging. And there's more evidence of that today with some fun and funky storage from Red Candy. If you've not come across them do take a look, I mean you just have to love a company who has "Shut up Beige" as their strapline, don't you?

My shiny new storage jars arrived promptly and I found myself rearranging kitchen cupboards and storage to find the perfect home for them. The glass jars are by Alessi, and the little man that's holding on tight in there is called Gianni. In fact they're all called Gianni, I didn't name him. Honest.

Alessi Gianni storage jars from Red Candy, putting the fun into funky

Here he is, holding on tight, while I take a closer look:

GIANNI, HE'S QUITE THE ACROBATIC SHOWOFF

Every time I expected to hear a squeal from him... but in fact, it was more likely me that was squealing and chuckling in amusement.

The jars I have are, from left to right, the 90cl, 200cl and 140cl and I've used them to store chia seeds, muesli and raisins. And now think I have the smartest, healthy goods storage around. I opted for white, rather than the bolder blue or yellow colours, and although it also comes in black, I knew I wanted to use these in my cupboard and so I wanted something light and something that I can use for many years to come. If you're wondering what sizes they really are, the largest jar would easily store spaghetti or linguine, if that helps.

filled storage jars from Red Candy, trying not to submerge Gianni in my dry goods

And even though I have the white - it's still not beige - and I've the added bonus of smiling every time we lift the lid off the healthy stuff. What better incentive is there?

Gianni - the man holding on tight - going into the chia seeds

And no, I didn't realise we had quite so many chia seeds either. I did wonder if they'd stick to him and he'd deposit seeds across my worktop without me noticing. But no, he doesn't, even though he's just about standing on the top of the seeds, I've rolled them around the jar to see what happens, and if static comes into play. But he's passed the test and can stay in my chia seeds. And I'll be adding chia seed porridge to the growing list of new routines, to help bring down my chia seed mountain...

Standing on chia seeds, Gianni in the airtight jar from Red Candy

And you may think they're wasted inside a cupboard, but I think if you're going to do storage well then it shouldn't all be for show. I do like a tidy cupboard, I've a number of storage baskets in each cupboard too and everytime MOH puts jars away with the label not facing the front, I shudder just a little bit.

Stylish - and fun - storage from Red Candy

So here they are in situ. Three Giannis in three storage jars, and three times the amount of smiles. What do you think?

* This is a collaborative post, but all views and opinions are my own.

It's National Gardening Week, what are you up to?

April 12, 2017

This week is National Gardening Week, and the focus of this year's week is to "Help New Gardener's to Grow" so as I've been collecting lots of gardening inspiration lately, what better time to share it than now? So as well as the inspiration, I'm also sharing my gardening to do list - as there's always something more to do, just like anything else. And if all that sounds like too much work, just scroll to the bottom of this post where I'm sharing nine recent photos from my garden.

From around the Inter-web

Top ten gardening jobs for April, with advice from the RHS
10 ways to bring your interior style into your garden, Houzz
Grow sunflowers from seed, Gardeners' World
A beginners guide to adding trees to your garden, Houzz
A beginners guide to green roofs, Houzz
Right plant, right place - an invaluable guide to choosing plants, Crocus
Planting herbs in containers, National Gardening Week
Take the quiz and find out Which National Flower Are You?, Into The Wild blog - I was a Black Orchid
Watch Monty Don create a wildlife garden, Gardeners' World

My gardening to do list

Clean the greenhouse - tick - we did that on Sunday.
Plant on those giant fuchsias - tick - they're snug in the clean greenhouse.
Sit in the garden and enjoy just looking at it - tick - another one from Sunday, let's hope the lovely weather returns soon.
Start sowing some seeds: tomatoes, sunflowers, chillies, beans, herbs and some flowers too.
Wait (impatiently) for my potatoes and onions to arrive.
Continue to collect toilet rolls to sow sweet peas in.
Source a small-ish pallet for my latest craft project idea.
Mark out where the gabion seating wall will go, and how many we'll need.
Take more of our leaf mulch over to the allotment.