Happy New Year!!

A very, very Happy New Year to you all, my Modern Country lovelies! Here's to another year full of the best inspiration for Modern Country interiors, gardens, crafts and fashion! 

I'm very excited for 2015: this New Year feels warm and welcoming and exciting and full of opportunity! I can't wait to take you along with me....

Image via CrushCulDeSac

Merry Christmas!

We have a splendidly exciting few days ahead of us here in our corner of the Cotswolds. My favourite of the whole year. Cards have been written, presents have been (mostly!) wrapped, and our kiddiewinks are being whipped up into a frenzy of excitement via twinkling lights, stocking hanging, gathering around Christmas films and lots of friends and family....

Enjoy every moment, my poppets!

I'll see you in the New Year!

Image via akadesign

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday!

For me, Christmas is a highly private time of year, which is why I've not shared a festive house tour {sorry!}. I see it as time to hunker down with my family and close friends, in the warm glow of the Christmas tree, and enjoy the cosy sense of togetherness.

Just before my final post (tomorrow), I wanted to share my new favourite LED lights...I've seen a lot of takes on these, and mostly they come up looking pretty cold. These, though, are gorgeous! Twinkly, warm and lovely!

Book Reviews: Madhouse Cookbook and No-Bake Baking

I have two must-have recipe book reviews to tempt you with today! I find that having a big family + loving to have friends round = some slightly fraught moments!! In the run up to Christmas, there are lots of occasions when run to a few trusted recipe books. Today, I wanted to share two of those with you...

The first is the Madhouse Cookbook: Delicious Recipes for the Busy Family Kitchen, which fits in to where author Jo Pratt is in her life from day to day...and it shows. That's not to say that she really does live in a madhouse, but rather that she obviously understands what it means to have to produce a varied, healthy, realistically-priced meal each and every day for a family. However, very importantly, the recipes are delicious, and the quality of the ingredients is in no way compromised.

There have been other recipe books that promise to do the same but, in my opinion, I've found that none of them are as good as The Madhouse Cookbook.

The book is divided into three sections: Monday To Friday Survival, The Busy Weekend, and Cling Onto Your Social Life. Each of these is then split into sub-categories so you know exactly where to turn when the pressure is on: for example, 'Quick Prep - Leave To Cook' and 'The Need For Speed'.

The book has lots of really good, and original ideas of how to stretch the recipes further, as well as thoughts on how to use leftovers, which I LOVE!! 

Another great thing is the index, which allows you to look up recipes by their key ingredient. Perfect for those evenings when you're struggling to use up items in the fridge.

Jo Pratt has clearly been there, done that with a busy household...Madhouse Cookbook is one of best survival guides out there!

The second book I'm reviewing today is a must-have in the sometimes hectic run up to Christmas. I absolutely adore this time of year...but there can be slightly fraught moments when I realise I've got extra guests for tea and need to rustle up something fast.

That's where No-Bake Baking: Easy, Oven-Free Cakes and Treats comes in! Now, I have to say up-front, that this is not a book to get if you're on any kind of diet because it's literally jam-packed full of VERY sweet treats! BUT it's just genius at helping to whizz up a great-looking desserts when you're flagging a little at the end of a long day, and realise that you've still not made pudding for tonight's guests (been there?!).

The recipes themselves vary from the extremely easy (basically an assemblage of elements!) to the slightly tricky. Chapters are separated into: Biscuits, Cakes, Slices and bars, Cheesecakes, Pies and tarts, Sweet treats, Iced Dreams and Desserts.

As I said, probably not the best thing for your teeth but a life-saver at this busy time of year.

{You can buy No-Bake Baking and Madhouse Cookbook: Delicious Recipes for the Busy Family Kitchen here!} 

Natal encarnado e branco!

Para os fãs o tradicional encarnado, aqui ficam algumas ideias!

Book Review: Giftwrapped by Jane Means

I'm a late developer when it comes to the art of gift-wrapping. Yes, I was always wowed if I received presents that were exquisitely presented but it's only in the passed few years that I've realised how achievable it is, with a little thought and a well-stocked craft cupboard, to add significant zhush to your bestowing. And that's why, just in time for that Christmas wrapping bonanza, today's post is a book review of Giftwrapped: Practical and Inventive Ideas for All Occasions and Celebrations by Jane Means.

Jane Means is a wrapping guru extraordinaire. She raises the presentation bar by a few hundred feet but somehow manages to convey her obvious talent in a way that is both inspiring and encouraging.

Published by Jacqui Small, Giftwrapped takes you through the whole range of packaging problems (bottles, clothes, circular tins)...with fantastic and gorgeous solutions.

Jane means teaches gift-wrapping (as well as selling an enormous range of want-it-now ribbons and papers) for a living, and her skill at demonstrating a variety of techniques (bow-tying, pleating, bouquet-encasing) shines throughout the book.

You'll be relieved to know that Giftwrapped is not a plea to spend hundreds of pounds on fancy extras...plenty of the ideas here are free...for example, adding little sprigs of rosemary to your ribbons. These little touches, alongside your new-found wrapping prowess will make you feel like Modern Country crafting royalty!

Covering everything from baby shower presents to making the perfect labels, Giftwrapped has the power (with a little help from you!) to transform so-so offerings to breathtaking beauties.

{Get your copy of Giftwrapped by Jane Means here.}

Cabeceiras estofadas! *Headboards

Escolha o modelo... e peça o seu orçamento!
INFORMAÇÕES

Telm.919146171

claudia.goncalves@sctecidos.com

SC Tecidos

Rua Saraiva de Carvalho 386 C

1399-053 LISBOA

Aberto de segunda a sábado das 9h00 às 20h00.

MN Home Feature: Holiday Decor at Home.

With just a week left for Christmas, the festive mood is on the ascend. Yesterday's snow showers have got our hopes up for a white christmas.

Last two Christmas' we were away from home, travelling, visiting new places. 

This year we are enjoying the holidays at home here in Minnesota and hence I have had the time to put things together in our home that brings holiday cheer and festivity.

The stores are buzzing with a mind-boogling array of holiday decorations, ornaments, wreaths and what-nots. 

Miniature Christmas trees grouped together at the entryway mirror.

As for me I am drawn to vintage, hand-crafted and simple one of a kind decorations. I love picking up things that have a special meaning to me and my family.

We live in a place where we are covered in snow almost six months of the year. White trees are special.

I like to spread the holiday spirit through our home and not just to one room.

Our guardian angel spreads her rosy glow in one corner.

Our 1968 built home has a beautiful exposed brick fireplace, which is a perfect backdrop for our family stockings.

Mr. Vintage Santa was a lovely find from The Cottage House. 

Wooden blocks can convey so many happy emotions.

Holiday decor on our centre table.

Continuing the holiday decor onto our kitchen table. I decided to bring few branches of an evergreen tree, placed it in a glass bottle filled with water and hung some miniature wooden ornaments on it.

Silhouette of the miniature Christmas tree on the kitchen table with winter morning light filtering through.

Moments of happiness derived from such frames forms a large part of the holiday spirit. Sitting on the table planning recipes for cookie parties with large mug of masala chai by my side or lighting twinkling candles at dusk everyday when the sky turns a deep shade of cerulean blue.

A vintage handcrafted mitten ornament for our christmas tree from the holiday market.

Support local artists, buy handmade, buy from small business' or just DIY! There are so many simple holiday DIY's. If you plan to try then do check out my Pinterest

A Swedish Dala horse ornament from American Swedish Institute holiday market.

Add your own style to decorating, change the bedspreads to red, white or gold. A fresh dishtowel with holiday prints or even a simple star on the shelf can bring in the holiday spirit.

Our christmas tree shimmers adorning vintage and hand-crafted ornaments.

A season to reflect on the year gone by, a deep sense of gratitude for all the good that happened this year, of all the accomplished tasks, life lessons learnt, of first snowflakes softly falling to the ground, a prayer for peace in the world, more appreciation for family and friends who touch our lives in so many ways and to be a better person.

The glittering lights at dusk always brings a sense of calm.

Reflection of the christmas lights on the mirror.



Wishing all lovely readers of Rang Decor a very merry Christmas & Happy New Year. May each one of us find the strength to make a difference in this world of ours in our own way.

Citrus season wishes from my home to yours!

As I sign off for the year, I share this quote that totally says it all:-)

'Maybe Christmas,' he thought, 'doesn't come from a store. 
Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more?'

~The Grinch from, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas

( Images by Arch and are copyrighted. Please do not use without permission)