I told you I would be back!
This new range from Zara Home is just goddam spring-a-licious.
I love this shade of green – Sonico Decorative bedspread €99.95 and cushion cover €16.95.
I am also liking this pink and green combo – Musroom bedspread and matching cushion cover – €79.95 and €22.95
And if bright greens are not your thing you might like this Polka bedspread €99.95
And where did they source these cushions?! Lolita cushions – 19.95
This is a quick post but I will be back with more. I like this quilt cover from Next but just wish it was in grey and white then I would love it.
Ooh I can’t wait to try out this recipe. Its yum! My good friend J has come up with goods once again. Here is her recipe for Risotto with Parma Ham.
Risotto w/ Parma Ham – takes about 45 minutes
INGREDIENTS
Risotto (200gr for 2 people)
Olive Oil / butter
1 Onion diced
1 Clove Garlic, crushed
1 Cup Frozen Petit Pois
Parma Ham, sliced/torn
At least 1- 1.5 litres of Homemade stock
1 Courgette
Handful of Mint
Handful of flat leaf parsley
Zest of 1 lemon
METHOD
Heat your stock and keep warm. You will need to add this slowly, bit by bit, to your risotto.
Separately, dice the courgette, and bring it to the boil in a saucepan. Cook for 5 minutes until soft. Remove from heat, drain & reserve the water. Add this courgette water to the warm stock. Mash the courgette and keep to one side to add into the risotto when it’s nearly done.
At the same time, in a large pan, add a dash of olive oil, and if using it, a knob of butter also. Add the onions and garlic and fry gently until soft. Add the risotto and stir continuously until the grains become glassy. Add a small amount of the stock liquid and allow the risotto to soak it up. Repeat this process, stirring regularly. The secret is to add the stock slowly allowing the risotto to soak it up before adding more, and not allowing the risotto to stick at all.
After about 30 minutes of this, add the peas, parma ham and courgette and some more stock. Once this is soaking up, add the mint, parsley & lemon zest. Continue to cook until the rice is soft enough to eat (keep sampling it!). It should take about 45 minutes in total but times may vary depending on the size of your pan, and if you use more/less risotto than the recipe mentions.
Serve in big bowls with some grated parmesan.
OPTIONS
If you can’t get parma ham, don’t use ordinary ham – maybe use some chopped bacon instead but add it earlier so it cooks through.
Omit the parma ham for any vegetarians.
You can use a stockcube instead of homemade stock if you are not allergic to it, but homemade stock is preferable.
TIPS
Add the stock slowly, and keep stirring.
If you run out of stock during the process, just add hot water instead.
WARNING – No good will come of this unless you’re ready to move overseas!
A close friend is looking to buy a house in Dublin and has been for years now. Usually after a few viewings she finds herself a little less enthusiastic for a variety of reasons. So to torture herself more she decided to fantasize about buying real estate in New Zealand. She asked me where might be nice to set up her new fantasy life. Well I have never been to New Zealand so I suggested Hawkes Bay because I liked the name. We had a look at the houses on offer and found this little 1920s cottage by the sea. Now I want to move to Hawkes Bay!
You can see the sea whilst washing the dishes! Plus you have a separate one bedroom self-contained accommodation for your visitors!
Hi All – I forgot to mention that I have finally added a subscription button to the blog. The button is located top right hand column. Once you sign up you will get an email automatically when I upload a new post. This will save you time as you only have to drop by when there is new content to read. Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind the repeat hits but I know it gets frustrating when there is nothing new to read. Any problems let me know.
I know, pretty lame title. Somedays I am quite the card but I guess today is not one of them. 
Anyway there is a point to this post. Drinks trolleys. Cool but hard to find. Well make your own!
Here is a Ikea shelf turned bar area. Quite simple really – turn the shelf on its side add some Ikea legs and Bob is your uncle who you can invite over for drinks. Or even better – convince him to make it for you!
This next one is pretty cool but I am guessing you need to know your way around a few power tools. Full instructions on how to make this trunk turned bar trolley can be found here.
Personally I am thinking of taking the lazy way out and buying this trolley from IKEA and painting it a glossy fire engine red. Maybe adding a barrier on the lower and middle shelves to stop the bottles and glasses falling over when moving it about.
I need some pretty pictures today as I had a sucky weekend.
My future shop
My future art
One day I am going to attempt my version of this framed art.
And shame on me as I don’t remember where I sourced this pic from! Please send on details if you do.
And I love this work area.
First pic from hotel-aire-de-bardenas
Last pic via lardulcilar.blogspot
Simone found the lampshade first, then the base, added a doily and viola! Check the how to over on Simone’s blog Beach Vintage.
Four lovely bedrooms to say sorry for my recent slackness.
First up – Expose brickwork + chandelier = stunning bedroom number one
Next up – Black wall + stunning bed = glam rock
Now for something a little more sedate
and finally a big old mirror for a bedhead and another chandelier
Pics from Country Living and Living Etc
Sorry for being absent for three days. I was away in Cannes baby for work and thought I could update the blog in the evening but it didn’t happen. And I didn’t even take photos of all the lovely interior and homeware stores I past each day. Bad bad blogger. I promise I will make it up to you all.
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