Our Monthly Journal
March 2022
We're so excited to share another monthly journal written by the lovely Lola Jones, also known as @pocketfullofbuttercups on Instagram. Lola is a wonderful photographer and all round creator of beautiful content, raising her twin daughters Maya and Chloe & her baby Thea from her house near the Peak District. Each month she will give us a small glimpse into her world, inspiring you with activity ideas, recipes and more.
It’s very nearly Spring and I am so ready for it. The change of seasons always excites me, as I anticipate the months to come. I cannot wait to feel the warm sun on my face again and be able to shed some of the winter wardrobe off. In this journal, I will be sharing a step by step guide of how to make your own spring wreath, a sweet craft you can get little ones involved in and a Mother’s Day idea of how to make that special person in your life feel pampered.
As always we hope that you enjoy this month’s inspiration. Should you decide to have a go at any activities, we would really love to see them. Please tag us #inspiredbynelliequats
SIMPLE DIY SPRING WREATH
There aren’t too many signs of spring out there just yet and the temperatures are still miserably low, so I decided to create myself a spring wreath to bring a little colour indoors. Here is how you can make one too.
You will need:
- Wreath base (shop bought or handmade)
- Floral wire
- Flowers and foliage of your choice (I used mimosa and Veronica spray fountain)
- Scissors
For a wreath base you can use something shop bought or make a simple one yourself from foraged thin tree branches. I am re-using a small base I made for Christmas last year. The branches I used to decorate it dried off, so I removed them, but kept the base.
Start by cutting your flowers and arranging them into small bunches ready to be attached to the base. Wrap the end of the wire around the base to secure it in place. Do not cut the wire, but keep wrapping it around as you go. Lay the first bunch of flowers on your base and wrap the wire around a couple of times, then lay the next bunch of flowers, keep adding the flowers and moving around the wreath. Make sure the flowers face the same way. You can fill the wreath completely with flowers or partially, leaving some of the base exposed for a simpler look.
Tip: to keep your wreath fresher for longer, fill the sink or a bath with just enough water to cover the bottom of the wreath and let it sit for a short while.
DECORATED PLANT POT
Brighten some old plant pots with this fun craft idea.
You will need:
- Terracotta pot
-Acrylic paint
- Paint brush
- Dried assorted pasta shapes
- Hot glue gun
Wash and dry your plant pot, apply paint (you may need a couple of coats). Be careful to protect the surface you are working on. Set your pot to dry and play around with different pasta shapes to make various faces. Use shells for eyes for example, macaroni for nose or eyebrows, fusilli for mouth or add a bow tie with farfalle. Paint the pasta shapes in the colours of your choice and let them dry. Once your paint is dry on both the pot and the shapes, use a hot glue gun to attach pasta to the pot.
MOTHER'S DAY BREAKFAST IN BED
Oh the thought of staying in bed until late morning and not having to rush anywhere or cook for anyone, but enjoying a peaceful breakfast in bed with a good book. With a busy family life this may not be possible very often, but Mother’s Day is a perfect excuse, don’t you agree?
Why not drop a hint of this idea to your partner/and your little one(s)? The sound of laughter as they hustle in the kitchen making you a breakfast tray - a perfect treat followed by cuddles in bed for everyone.
Here’s a simple recipe children would enjoy helping to make.
Blueberry pancake - you will need:
-225g self-raising flour
-1 teaspoon baking powder
-30g granulated sugar
-1 tablespoon golden syrup
-2 eggs, beaten
-A splash of milk (enough to make the batter drop off the spoon. It should be quite thick and not runny)
-A small punnet of fresh blueberries
Method: Sieve the flour and baking powder into a bowl, then add the sugar. Stir in the syrup, eggs and enough milk to form a thick batter that just drops off the spoon. Add the blueberries.Heat a non-stick frying pan and add a splash of oil or a little butter. Drop the mixture in spoonfuls and cook until the bubbles rise, then flip on the other side and cook a little more. Serve warm or cold with the topping of your choice.
