Month: April 2020

Seeds success (I hope!)

Written by Laura Davieson

I may work with freshly cut flowers as a florist but that doesn’t mean I have a clue when it comes to growing my own blooms from seed. What started as an idea to keep the boys entertained during lockdown has actually turned into my own little personal project and i’m eagerly awaiting the fruits of my labour.

Charlie and I planted some Cosmos seeds back in March before lockdown alongside some cress (I thought the quick results would grab his interest) and when the Cosmos seeds germinated and we could see little green shoots appearing we got very excited and decided to start some Zinnia seeds off too. Having nurtured them for a few weeks, making sure they had the right light and enough water I decided it was time to plant them out in the garden.

I know advice says to slowly introduce the outside elements to the seedlings over the course of two weeks, but I gave them two days (see it as a crash course!) as I felt they had grown so big the minimal soil I planted them with (something I will change next time) wasn’t enough to nourish them.

So at the weekend I took some time to decide where in the garden I wanted each variety of flower to grow and went about transferring the seedlings to the ground. I definitely think they’re happier in more soil so i’m keeping my fingers crossed they continue to thrive (I’m hoping the epic rain forecast this week will help rather than hinder them) and in a few weeks i’ll see the first buds appearing.

I think i’ve definitely caught the bug for growing my own flowers in the garden, not only is it really cost effective, it’s super satisfying too. Next on my list are sweetpeas and Nigella, hopefully my beginners luck will continue.

Here are the seedlings in situ. Zinnias in the first picture and Cosmos in the second. I’ll keep you updated on the progress.

The daily cleanse…

Written by Laura Davieson

I don’t know about you but I HAVE to remove my make-up, cleanse, moisturise etc etc. before I hop into bed because otherwise the guilt of what it would do to my skin if I don’t wash it properly would probably not let me sleep anyway.

Over the years i’ve tried a few different make-up removers and cleansers but I think i’ve finally found my groove and as i’m always intrigued by what products women have on their bathroom shelves (I love reading the Top Shelf features on intothegloss ), I thought i’d share mine.

When I wrote the beauty pages at ASOS Magazine I used Bioderma Micellar Water as it was on the work stations of all the make-up artists backstage (which meant seeking out all pharmacies in London that stocked French brands.) Thankfully Garnier noticed the trend and made a more accessible version both in that you can buy it easily in the UK and in price-point. So that’s what I start with. Then I second cleanse with Beauty Pie’s Japanfusion Pure Transforming Cleanser. It starts off as a cream but as you massage it into the skin it transforms to an oil and washes off with a milky consistency.

After patting my skin dry with a towel I apply the Beauty Pie Uber Youth Super Eye Energy Peptide-Infusion Cream by dabbing a minimal amount around the eye socket and finish with either Evolve’s Daily Renew Facial Cream or Rose Hip Oil from The Ordinary. I find using the oil about twice a week, more in winter, helps to keep my skin hydrated.

I’ve actually found that the amount I spend on these products has dramatically reduced since the Dermologica days (Thanks to Beauty Pie) but the products not only work, they’re better and feel luxurious to use. Regular facials help too, if i’m lucky enough to get vouchers for birthdays!

Friday 5

Written by Laura Davieson

Here are a few things i’ve been listening to, watching and reading…

Podcast: How to Fail with Elizabeth Day: I’ve been listening to podcasts for a while now and find they make doing menial tasks like folding the laundry so much more interesting, I actually look forward to taking the time out to do it! Not only has Day got the most sublime voice to listen to, she’s a great interviewer. The three I have enjoyed recently are with Mo Gawdat, on how to cope with anxiety in a time of Coronavirus, the author Marian Keyes and Fearne Cotton.

TV: Quiz: A three part adaptation on ITV about the Major who cheated on the gameshow Who wants to be a Millionaire. I really remember when this show launched while I was at school and I can remember the major winning the million pound prize. It’s crazy the lengths they went to to get to the top prize, and watching it, obviously in a more dramatised way, it’s hard to believe the TV audience didn’t suspect it at the time.

Book: The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies: I’m so interested in raising children in the Montessori method, I’m really striving to raise my boys to be curious and inquisitive as well as gain more independance. It’s a learning process everyday for all of us but this book is helping me with ideas for setting up our home so its more accessible for them and how to approach situations in a more composed manner. The beautiful illustrations by Hiyoko Imai make this a book a beauty for the eyes too.

Blog: Babyccino: This is a beautiful site that I refer to constantly but more recently i’ve been enjoying all the craft and play ideas for the boys during lockdown. It’s hard to entertain a three and a half year old and nearly one year old all day but these ideas have really helped make the days more fun and interesting. Sometimes it’s realising that the simplest ideas (hello water table) really are the best.

Instagram:@Rebecca.Wakefield: I first came across Rebecca’s Instagram page through following Lily Pebbles as she enlisted the help of Interior Designer Rebecca to help make some changes to her bedroom. I love Rebeccas’s design aesthetic, there’s so much to be said for well considered simplicity which i’m really drawn to at the moment – maybe as a result of everyone pressing pause on life and slowing down a bit more. Definitely worth a follow if you’re into interiors.

Renovation plans…

Written by Laura Davieson

I was hoping that this would be the year we would be able to make our renovation dreams a reality, but we’ve decided with Covid-19 not to borrow so much on the mortgage renewal and try and save more ourselves, so it’s unlikely we’ll be able to do any structural work for another two years or so.

On the one hand i’m a bit devastated as we inherited a really outdated conservatory with our house that i’m itching to tear down so we can extend the back of the house and make our kitchen and living space a lot more to our taste and flow better. But on the other hand i’m hoping that by the time we can actually do the work, the boys will be that bit older so we won’t have to have the ugly cupboard safety latches on the kichen doors and it will be kept that little bit more in order (who am I kidding on that one?!)

So for now while we’re in isolation i’ve rekindled my love of Pinterest and am adding ideas to my Kitchen Plans board. I’ve actually found my tastes have changed since we moved in, whereas initially I wanted bi-fold doors across the back, I now really like the idea of Crittall doors and more muted colours paired with natural woods and stone. I’m interested to see if I still want these elements in the design when we come to doing the work!

Here are some of the images on my Pinterest board right now.

Life in lockdown…

Written by Laura Davieson

As much as life is really strange being in lockdown for everyone, for me, with no pre-school or any of our usual classes to attend, our Monday-Friday is pretty different to usual right now. As much as i’m excited for Charlie to head back to pre-school, mainly for him as he is missing it so much, i’m also relishing these slow mornings and not having to rush around from place to place. There really are so many benefits to slowing down a bit.

One of the main things that i’m enjoying in these moments is that my husband (Jimmy) isn’t commuting into London so I have the mornings to take some time for myself before he starts work. As someone who really needed to kick start their fitness regime since the new year i’ve been making the most of YouTube and doing yoga classes with Annie Clarke and Barre classes with Psycle London. I’m particularly loving the Barre classes as there aren’t Barre classes to physically attend where I live so it’s been an opportunity to dip into it without any financial investment, and i’m hooked!

On days where I don’t take the boys for a walk (which isn’t many as treasure hunts in the woods have kinda become the focus of our mornings nowadays) i’m also trying to go for a run to get the cardiovascular fitness in and help clear my mind. The thing I love about these runs is that I can venture further than our area so it helps fight that cabin fever feeling, and I also get to see all of the blossom trees in full bloom, one of my absolute favourite times of the year. Here’s a snap of one of the trees I saw on my run this morning.

Sowing seeds…

Written by Laura Davieson

One of the great things to have come out of this enforced isolation period is that I’m taking the time to try and get the garden looking more like the wild flower vision I had for it when we moved in. It’s been a slow process, the garden we inherited was surrounded by conifers, and while these prevented us being overlooked by the neighbours, they drained light from the space, but also meant there wasn’t many room for flowers.

When we hired tree surgeons to come and remove said conifers it took out a large proportion of our budget for the garden that year, but it was a good job done, and the roots were so deep that we needed to give the ground some time to recover, so we had a pretty bare garden for a while.

Over the next two years we’ve made a couple of trips to garden centres to add some plants and colour to the borders, which being free of conifers were calling for some life. We’ve planted a David Austin rose bush, foxgloves, Hellibores, Forget-me-Nots, a Magnolia tree and Poppies and I’ve recently planted some Peony bulbs (my favourite) but it’s definitely a work in progress.

Our plan for the next couple of years is to do some major renovation work on the back of the house, removing an outdated conservatory and redoing the patio area so I think there’s part of us that’s holding back on doing too much or dedicating too much time to planting just in case it’s completely ruined and we have to start from scratch post workmen.

However, since Covid-19 hit, its become clear that it’s going to be a couple more years until we can save enough money for the plans we have, so in the meantime I’ve been sowing some flower seeds to plant to the garden, partly as a fun activity to do with Charlie, for him to watch the process from seed to flower, but also as a fun personal project too.

So far we’ve planted some Cosmos and Zinnia seeds in germination trays as well as some Icelandic poppies, and when the frosts lift in the mornings i’ll plant these outside. I’d also love to make use of all the empty pots we have by growing some herbs in them under the kitchen window, to help make the patio feel a bit more joyful too.

As a florist i’m more used to working with cut flowers direct from Holland or the flower market but I have to say I think I’ve caught the bug with growing my own too. I’m checking the seedlings every night and am excited by the prospect of having some Cosmos that i’ve cultivated from seeds plated in the garden soon. Hopefully this is just the start of a gardening hobby blossoming and my wild flower garden dream can actually become a reality…I’ll keep you posted!

April update

Written by Laura Davieson

Wow, what a year 2020 has been so far, and not in a great way. The year started with a family bereavement and then a stint in hospital for Charlie but thankfully he is recovered now. Coronavirus was on the news and in our mindset but it still felt far away in China so not directly affecting us.

Fast forward only a few weeks and Covid-19 has gone global and the world has come to a standstill. The UK is on lockdown to try not to spread this pandemic and help the already under pressure NHS. As as my husband is considered to be in a high-risk category we are actually having to self isolate for 12 weeks.

When I write that i’m partially filled with nerves as to how I am going to explain to Charlie that there is no pre-school and worried how I’m going to make life fun and interesting for him and Jack when our world has shrunk down to our house and garden (but thankfully we have a garden!) but after a few tears (mainly the thought of not seeing my own family properly for this long) I’m actually going to embrace the family time and the slower pace of life. I can already see the bond strengthening between Charlie and Jack as they become each others sole playmates.

It’s a scary time for the world but i’m hoping that we can stay safe in our home, take delight in the flowers that continue to bloom in our garden, bake cakes, do arts and crafts and generally enjoy each others company. I’m excited for summer days in the garden and hopefully Jack taking his first steps. His first birthday won’t be the family party we had imagined but we can make sure it’s a great day, just the four of us and celebrate with everyone when it is safe to do so.

Thankfully we live in a society where FaceTime, Zoom and HouseParty mean we can communicate and see our friends and families virtually even if not in person and hopefully the more people that take note of the #stayhome message the more chance the NHS has on the front line.

In the grand scheme of things, 12 weeks is nothing – and who knows I might actually start to get this blog underway the way I hoped to last year!

I hope you all stay safe and well too.

Bitnami