In this weeks blog, I’m sharing my top tips to plan effectively so that you can prioritise more time for what’s important in your life, how I plan my diary and one very key lesson I learned years ago, which I still use today.
How do you plan? Are you an electronic diary kind of person or, like me, love to have a pretty planner..? Or several..?
Whilst this may seem excessive, I’m yet to find a planner that ticks all my boxes – so I use two or three. One for the home and my interiors projects, one for my Blogs and Missions and one for my Fitness and Wellbeing Goals including the “everyday” . The dream is to take all the aspects I love about the planners I use and add my own little spin. Wonder if you can guess what I’d add? Do you think if I make a wish, it might just happen..?
“The key is not to prioritise what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
Stephen Covey.
I have used the diaries and calendar from Boxclever Press for years, in fact am sure I was one of their first customers the year they launched which coincided with me becoming a new mum. Writing the important things down is key to managing my time effectively.
I was delighted recently when they asked me to review their new academic diary and calendar for 2021 / 2022 and share with you how I use them and what works for me. These planners are as close to perfect as I can get. They have everything for me as a busy mum of teens and and help me plan my writing and goals effectively.
The new school term for me is a perfect time for a new focus, and yes with that, a new planner! There’s something about having a new pencil case and notebook to reignite the passion around your working life, home life and yes, planning the final quarter of the year, all whilst wondering how that time has passed so quickly!
The planning starts for me before the Autumn term begins. I’m not sure what it’s like in your house but as the school summer term finishes, my inbox starts to flood with fixtures and dates for the new term. As a swim mum, this includes swimming fixtures as the season runs from late August through to the following summer.
Getting everything in place from dates to labelling the school uniform, early in the school summer holidays, means I can relax that little bit more without too many shocks the week before the new school year begins!
“Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.”
Stephen Covey
Look after the big rocks first.
The same year I became a first-time mum, I attended a Franklin Covey course on time and life management. There began my love for Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits for Highly Effective People. The biggest lightbulb moment was to look after the Big Rocks first.
The Big Rocks are the things in your life that are MOST important, they go in your planner first. It sounds a simple thing to do, but how many times when we are in the thick of life, we can revert to reactive living and not proactive. With a planner that works for you together with effective planning, life really does seem that much more manageable.
My Top Tips to Effective Planning:
Find a planner that works for you. it sounds really obvious but get to know it, spend time looking at all its functions so you are able to use it to your best advantage.
Put the big rocks in first, including YOU time – book it like an appointment. You wouldn’t miss you appointmentt for your car to have an MOT. Book them in for you too! Easier said than done I know, however practise makes perfect!
Create a system; with pens, stickers, whatever works for you to highlight the important appointments and fixtures that matter.
Create time for a Power of an Hour each day. Having focused time to work on ONE thing, working with intention and without distraction, it’s incredible what you can achieve.
Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail! It’s the little things that have a huge effect on the big things, so simple but true. So plan ahead – if you’re planning on working out first thing in the morning, prepare ahead by getting your kit ready the night before.
Consider how you can limit any stresses that come your way. What do you need in place to limit any stresses that may come your way? As a stationary lover, having a box of birthday and celebration cards to hand is always helpful with children in the house.
Each Sunday, I spend a little time getting prepared for my week ahead. This involves looking at my planner, doing a diary check with the family. Adding and taking out what can help and hinder the week ahead. I confirm my workouts, plan the weekly menu, including the shopping list and print my Consistency Checklist for the week ahead. I’ve created some free downloads which might help you.
“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically, to say “no” to other things.
Stephen Covey.
Let’s be real.
Trying to plan effectively and having systems in place, are all well and good, but let’s be honest and realistic for a moment, life happens! We can plan for most things, yet curveballs can occur which will send us out of kilter. We’ve certainly learned that in the last year haven’t we?
We all know that it is how we respond to these circumstances that matter so please be kind to yourself. If you drop the ball, that’s ok. I truly hope that sharing some of the things that work for me, help you too. Be kind to yourself and put things in place that work for you.
It’s half term here in the UK and for many of us, we will be reuniting with friends and family that we’ve not seen for months and months. Hurrah for now being able to hug and eat inside again! With that in mind, this blog features recipes of some of my favourite new finds and recipes I’ve rediscovered from not being able to entertain in so long.
As I’ve shared in previous blogs, when you’re entertaining, the joy is all about seeing friends and family and not spending time slaving away in the kitchen. I’m a big lover of preparing in advance so that I can spend the maximum amount of time outside. Although if you saw my post on Instagram this week, I wouldn’t need to worry so much. How fabulous is this space?
So without further ado, let’s get excited about entertaining our guests. When we think of barbecues, we often think of sausages and burgers, or did until companies such as Big Green Egg started creating more and more effective and creative ways to cook outside. (For full transparency, not a sponsored post at all, but you know I’ll rave about things I love. My local butchers have been raving about the Eggs since they were first on the market.
It’s hard to beat these fragrant fish skewers. Marinated in lemon juice, garlic and green herbs, these succulent cod, salmon and king prawn kebabs taste incredible served straight off the grill. 10 mins to prepare and 10 mins to cook, plus marinating. Recipe source Tesco.
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
2 lemons, 1 juiced and zested, 1 cut into wedges, to serve
2 garlic cloves, finely grated
handful dill, finely chopped
handful flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
400g (14oz) boneless, skinless cod loin, cut into 16 chunks
400g (14oz) boneless and skinless salmon, cut into 16 chunks
16 raw king prawns
16 bay leaves
Method
Soak 4 wooden skewers in water, so they won’t burn on the barbecue. Preheat the barbecue.
In a large bowl, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill and parsley. Stir in the cod, salmon and prawns, season and put in the fridge to marinate for 1 hour.
Thread 2 pieces of cod, 2 pieces of salmon, 2 prawns and 2 bay leaves onto each skewer. Cook on the barbecue for 8-10 minutes, turning regularly, or until the fish and prawns are cooked through.
Scatter over the lemon zest and serve with the lemon wedges.
Steak, cooked to perfection, the Big Green Egg way.
This recipe is from the lovely folk at The Big Green Egg. You may think why do I need a recipe to tell me how to cook steaks? Well the chaps at The Big Green Egg know a thing or two about cooking on BBQ’s so I’m sharing their old fashioned method. Not only do I think you’ll love it, but you’ll end up with mouth watering, restaurant quality grill marks and a consistent cook. This method is super, not just for steaks but for pork chops, lamb cutlets or most other cuts of beef too.
Remove your steak from the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Pat dry with a kitchen towel.
Don’t remove any excess fat from the steak. Fat carries flavour into the meat whilst cooking. You can always remove it afterwards.
Season the steaks with a generous amount of salt on both sides. Don’t use the black pepper at this stage as it burns and turns bitter at high temperatures.
Lay them down and leave them to develop clearly defined searing marks.
How quickly you turn your steak depends on the thickness of the steak and how well you like it cooked. An inch-thick steak cooked medium will need turning after about 3 minutes.
Turn the steaks, this time preferably moving them to a different area of the grid. This ensures that you are placing the uncooked side of the steak onto a freshly hot area of the grid.
After a further 2 minutes, perform a touch test. Touch your hand where the base of your thumb joins to the fleshy part of your palm, in 3 positions, to compare to the touch of the steak. Your palm relaxed and open signifies the loose resistance of touching a rare steak. Gently close your palm and the base of your thumb joining your palm will be firmer. Tightly close your fist and this area will become tighter still, representing a well cooked steak.
Remove from the grill and let rest, season with cracked black pepper. They are delicious as they are but you could always add a dab of garlic butter. Serve with your favourite sides.
“Obviously, everyone’s different, but I love just settling down and having a barbecue with my friends at the house.”
Harry kane
Honeyed Mediterranean Vegetables With Spiced Yoghurt Dressing. (Serves 4)
An easy vegetarian grill or barbecue dish, served with pittas. This recipe is from Waitrose and is so simple and full of flavour. Just 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
.
Ingredients
1 red pepper, cored and cut into strips
1 aubergine, cut into 1cm slices
2 courgettes, cut into 1cm slices
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp toasted pine nuts
4 wholemeal pitta breads
100g natural yogurt
½ lemon, juice
1 tsp harissa paste
Method
Start the barbecue, if using, or preheat the oven grill to high. Toss the vegetables in 1 tbsp olive oil and, in 2 batches, barbecue over hot coals covered in a light layer of ash, or grill on a baking sheet, for 3–4 minutes each side, until charred and cooked through. Put in a large bowl.
Combine the honey, cumin seeds and remaining 2 tbsp olive oil, then toss into the grilled vegetables. Scatter with the pine nuts.
Barbecue or grill the pittas. Mix the yogurt, lemon juice and harissa to make a dressing. Serve with the vegetables and pittas.
Summer Tomato Focaccia.
Not only is this bread super delicious, it looks so pretty too! It takes a little while to make – it’s bread! But the results are so worth it! I wish I could remember where I found this recipe, feel free to adapt. Additions could be adding sliced red onions, garlic, you name it. I do however think you’ll love this one for a summer barbecue.
Ingredients
2 cups of warm water
2 tsp yeast
2 tsp table salt
4 cups bread flour
Olive Oil
2 fresh rosemary leaves – or 3 tbs
1 pint cherry tomatoes
Grated parmesan and sea salt for sprinking
Set the oven to 425f
Put the yeast in a large mixing bowl and pour in the warm water.
Add the salt and 2 cups of the flour, mix into a soft sticky dough. Add the remaining 2 cups of flour and mix well. (The dough will be sticky)Cover aqnd let it rise for 40 minutes in a warm place.
Press out the dough on a well oiled lined baking sheet. Using your fingers, ease it into a rectangle, approximately 9×13 inches, give or take.
Put the olive oil in a small bowl and dip your fingers into the oil and then all over the bread, poking the bread surface and leaving little pools ofm oil. Do this all over the bread. Don’t skimp, this will result in great flavour after the bread is baked.
Arrange the tomatoes accross the top, pressing them into the dough slightly, then scatter the rosemary leaves evenly accross thew surface. Sprinkle sea salt over all and finally top off with a dusting of parmesan cheese.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden.
The rosemary will crisp up in the oven, so you may wish to scatter some fresh leaves on top of the bread after baking to refresh the rosemary flavour and give it visual appeal.
No barbecue is complete without at least one S’more. I was first introduced to this delicacy when working in America for a few months prior to my nurse training. It took toasting marshmallows around the campfire to a whole new level!
This is a recipe you can have real fun with. I suggest you play around with a variety of biscuits and chocolate – the variations are endless! Although Marks and Spencers All Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are the gold star! (image below) Lindt chocolate with sea salt or chilli are also great additions to your S’mores menu! They aren’t just for the children!
Ingredients.
Packet of digestive Biscuits
2 packets of marshmallows.
50-100g chocolate (dark or milk) melted if you wish.
Method
Toast your marshmallows over the BBQ until crunchier on the outside and gooey in the middle.
(On a rainy day, preheat the oven to 180C. Spread the marshmallows on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Bake for 2-3 minutes, until golden and melting.)
Meanwhile, spread each cookie with the melted chocolate. (We often let the marshmallows do the melting so skip this bit!)
Spoon the toasted marshmallows onto cookies, then place the remaining cookies on top and squidge down to make a sandwich.
There is no real need for decorations when throwing a barbecue party – let the summer garden, in all its vibrant and luscious splendour, speak for itself.
Pippa Middleton
Further reading:
It’s no secret that I love a good recipe book. A book I’ve put on my wishlist is the new, recently launched Tom Kerridge book; Outdoor Cooking it sounds fabulous.
“Chapters include hearty favourites like pork and chorizo burger, veggie mains like charred cauliflower salad, and shareable snacks like aubergine dips and flatbreads.
He also includes desserts and drinks, tips and advice for the perfect summer barbecue, campfire or outdoor gathering with friends and family.”
Sounds great doesn’t it?
I really hope these recipes have given you some food for thought, parden the pun! Do let me know which recipe (s) you like the idea of trying. Do share and let me know! Equally, I’d love to know your favourite recipe you’ll be cooking this weekend.
Wishing you a super weekend wherever you are, may the sun shine!
A little mission – pantry makeover and organisation. What I did so our kitchen worked more effectively for us as a family. We all have our systems in place and I’m sure you have your own too, however incase it helps, I thought I’d talk you through what I did to organise our kitchen and pantry cupboards.
I always enjoy a good old spring clean and declutter and it seems I’m not on my own – thank goodness! Spending a year in Lockdown has meant we’ve looked at our spaces differently and in my case, decluttering at the beginning last March and now again a year on!
Clear the clutter so you have room to see the potential in front of you.
Syd and Shea McGee
Moving Day; the back story.
To give you a little back story, when we moved into our home, the children were still young, I was running my Fitness and Wellbeing business and up at 4.15am every morning and my husband also has a busy job! Not unusual, I hear you say..
Moving in day was equally busy. I picked up our new keys at midday, having run two busy fitness camps for my clients at 6am and 9am. We had until the 3.30pm school pick up to get the majority of the work done. Essentially I was keen to at least make the childrens bedrooms and the living areas livable! Yes my #PowerofanHours were in full swing, even then!
Obviously in an ideal world, we’d have looked at the space in our kitchen and worked out logically where everything should live. We didn’t, we simply unpacked the boxes (in an organised manner as possible) and that was that, back to our crazy busy lives, excited to be in our new home. It worked.
The simplest of touches for the guest room.
Lockdown bought a new vision
Over the years, I’ve decluttered and moved things around but one of the positives this Lockdown has given me was to really look at our space, how it functioned, or didn’t and plan accordingly.
It’s been a huge lightbulb moment for me, having the brain space and time to be objective, yet creating spaces behind the doors that work so much more effectively for us as a family. I cleared a space in my diary and the “Little Mission -the pantry makeover and organisation” commenced!
I started with one cupboard, where we store our hot drink ingredients, thinking I’d remove the items that were out of date or no longer served the family and simply replace back in the cupboard.. However, on closer examination, I realised that this cupboard also now hosted items we used for entertaining & baking.
Most of the items were already in storage jars but overtime it had become disorganised and cluttered, not only that but our mugs were over the other side of the kitchen. Not a good use of space or time, just to make a cup of coffee! Now I know this sounds silly, I’m sure many of you already have a “hot drinks station” as The Home Edit call it, but remember we moved in and went with the flow!
The top shelf now stores a basket with a stock of fruit teas, together with a storage jar of filter coffee and the cafetière. the second shelf now hosts our mugs and the bottom shelf hosts the teas, coffees etc that we use regularly. Our kettle lives directly under this cupboard and it works really well! Simple things eh..?
“Having a place for everything and everything in it’s place makes the world of difference” A quote my Granny Ruby would say often, I think I adopted her passion for being organised from her!
“I look forward to spring cleaning and putting things in their place. It’s therapeutic for me”
Kimora Lee Simmons
The System
Powered on, I turned my attentions to the pantry cupboards and adopted the same process.
Remove all items.
Discard what’s out of date or your family no longer need or use.
Wash all storage containers and wipe cupboards.
Assess the space.
Consider what you need to complete the job. Labels? Jars? Adjust the shelf heights?
Refill storage jars and place back where they suit you, your family and your lifestyle.
It always looks worse before it gets better!
Things I found useful to consider when starting a pantry organisation.
Think about what you actually do in your kitchen!
Where you cook, where you prepare the packed lunches, which items you use more than others. It took me until recently to realise that I stored my flour on the top shelf, with all the baking ingredients, which meant I’d have to jump onto the worktop to reach it – Every. Single. Time!! Why it didn’t occur to me to have a reshuffle and move these items to a lower shelf was purely because I didn’t give it another thought!
AfterBefore I can now reach the items I use on a daily basis! The baking ingrediants are stored in the basket, making life much simpler and neater.
Plan your layout!
I’m an old fashioned kind of girl and when the brain goes round and round in circles, I write it down. This new system needed to work, I wanted to have a space that was efficient, yet looked elegant and that worked for everyone, keeping the upkeep to a minimum. (Our longed for kitchen renovation is still in the “dream stage” but this process all helps for when the planning becomes a reality.)
I drew the kitchen and cupboard layout on a piece of paper and reassessed which storage jars and labels I needed and where they would go. By writing it all down, having an old fashioned “brain dump” cleared the fog and I could get a clearer perspective. A good thing when you are short of time!
Jars from Amazon Customised labels from Printtailors By working out what you need to refresh your space, before you order can save money and time. I used lots of storage jars I already had and ordered a couple more to complete the task. My coffee bags now have their own jar and customised label.
Divide the kitchen into “Stations”
I’m sure if I shared my steps in the kitchen before the pantry makeover and organisation, you’d giggle. Everything was so far away from each other.. The honey lived in a cupboard far from the toaster. The herbs were in a cupboard on the other side of the kitchen away from the oven.
Having stopped and reassessed and framed this process as “creating stations”, it really simplified everything and made it easier to organise.
The serving dishes, herbs and cooking ingredients are now in a cupboard next to the cooker. So simple, yet effective!
Remove the emotion from decluttering your items.
How many of us keep items because they have sentimental value or because they were expensive? You may remember in last weeks blog, I shared a game our family started “yes, no, go” last year. It really helps to make a quick decision about what stays and what goes. Having a Kitchen and pantry refresh means you can get radical.
Those plates that are chipped and you no longer use? They go!
Electrical items that no longer work? Get them fixed or they go!
Children’s cups and plates they used when they were toddlers but they’re now married and no longer live at home? If you can’t bare to get rid of them, pop them in a box (labelled obviously) and store in the attic. You get the idea!
What to do about remembering expiry dates?
Now you’ve removed all the unsightly packaging, how are you going to remember what expires and when? What if you have family member with allergies and need to know the ingredients on the items you’ve now lovingly stored in jars? I cut the expiry dates off the packaging and taped them to the bottom of the lid of the jar or under the jar depending on where the jar was in the cupboard. I didn’t want to see the tape!
Little touches, make the biggest impact!
I can honestly say that the Little Mission – The Pantry Makeover And Organisation has made a huge difference. The cupboards and pantry certainly “Spark Joy” and life is even more efficient. I was asked last week, how did you get the time to do this? I simply blocked an hour at a time. worked on a cupboard at at time. You know I’m a big fan of my #powerofanhour and blocking out time. In the long run you’ll save time and had a huge sense of satisfaction. A big win all round don’t you think?
Print Tailor
Finally
Forgive me if you’ve read this blog and thought “I can’t believe she’s sharing this, it’s obvious!” You wouldn’t be wrong! I have to say, we all lead busy lives and sometimes the simplest of things such as having your mugs next to your coffee can get over looked. Priorities take over.
I hope that a step by step walk through of what worked for me, might be useful for you and your pantry makeover and organisation too.
Let me know if this has inspired you to take a look at how your kitchen space works. I’d love to know what habits you got into that changed when you had a lightbulb moment, much like my having to jump on the worktop to reach the flour!! Tell me it’s not just me!
I love to be organised and find lots of inspiration from Instagram and books. This blog shares with you my top 5 books for home organisation.
During the Pandemic, sales online in garden centres, DIY stores, supermarkets ( including wine!) have soared as many of us have used the Lockdown Year to redecorate and use the space in our homes more effectively. Dining rooms have turned into classrooms, kitchen tables have turned into offices, gardens (and parks when we were allowed) turned into mini holiday venues, if only for an hour or two!
Lockdown 1.0
One of the first things I did during Lockdown 1.0 was declutter every cupboard in my kitchen – rock and roll, I know!! It sounds crazy, but actually having a little headspace and time to think “that really doesn’t work there and I have a solution” as opposed to “that doesn’t work there but I don’t have the time or the inclination now to figure it out” I hope I’m not alone!
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the progress I made – a year on and thanks to a busy household, a new declutter and reorganisation was required as we evolved as a family. More on that next week!
Remove the packaging and using jars to store your products. These jars are from The White Company
Clear the clutter so you have room to see the potential in front of you.
Syd and Shea McGee
The Pandemic increased our need for Netflix and neat homes!
I wonder what you’ll remember most about the Covid years as we look back in 3 or maybe even in 10 years’ time?
During the summer months, my decluttering turned to makeover projects, and we also discovered Netflix – please don’t judge, hehe! Pre-COVID, I spent every evening driving to and from Swim training with my children – if you are a swimmer or swim parent, you’ll totally understand that watching any television is an absolute luxury! Netflix pre-COVID was something that sounded great, but again, no headspace to think about organising or when we would watch it – oh how times have changed – for now!
Lots of DIY projects, general faffing and giving the rooms a little refresh each season certainly helped over the summer during Lockdown!
With Netflix and more time on our hands came the discovery of programmes that were just up my street – organisation and decluttering your home. Wow, has this craze really taken off! I’m always having a little faff at home with my husband asking, “OK, I give up, where have you hidden….?”
Or, “That’s nice, is it new?” No, I’ve simply moved said item from another room!
My top 5 books you’ll need for creating a beautifully organised home.
Instagram and Pinterest have been invaluable for inspiration and clever storage ideas, as have the following 5 books, that have inspired me to make our space more effective and, as Marie Kondo would say, “Spark Joy!”
“To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose. To throw away what you no longer need is neither wasteful nor shameful.”
Spark Joy was the first book about tidying I’d ever bought, years ago. It seemed a little odd, we all know how to tidy, yet the cover first drew my attention, then flicking through the pages. I knew it would be useful.
Marie has introduced us to her now world renown KonMari tidying method, which is to focus on what you want to keep, not what you want to get rid of.
This book covers every room in the house as well as a wide range of items, including photographs, cutlery and valuables. The book is one of a kind. It inspired a family game we lovingly call “yes, no, go!” when I was helping the children declutter their rooms when they were much younger.
Ask yourself if something ‘sparks joy’ and suddenly it becomes so much easier to understand if you really need it in your home and your life. When you surround yourself with things you love, you will find that your whole life begins to change.
I bought this book literally two weeks before we went into Lockdown last March, not only does it look beautiful on the coffee table, but Nikki has shares her wealth of experience and best advice for how to create an organised, beautiful and welcoming home. Nikki developed and honed her five essential steps to an organised home through her experience working as a professional organiser. In her book, Nikki teaches you to: assess your home to transform the spaces within to enhance your lifestyle; declutter and curate your possessions to keep what is useful and meaningful; clean with efficiency, adding an element of pleasure to everyday tasks; organise so you can find what you need, when you need it; and beautify and decorate to create a welcoming atmosphere for family and friends. (Imagine when we can finally welcome family and friends to our homes again!)
If there is anyone that I would love to come and spend a few days at my home to help me style and, yes, OK adopt as a friend, it would be Shea. Her style and flair for knowing what looks amazing where and how to turn an interior vision into a reality is second to none. Having watched the Dream Home Makeover series on Netflix, practically back to back, whilst decluttering my home office, I can honestly say that I loved every single makeover and home Shea and her team created for their clients.
Make Life Beautiful is a real behind the scenes account of how this powerhouse of a couple first met and turned their dreams into a reality.
Sharing golden nuggets of how they prioritised their values, defined their goals and put their dreams into action, going from not having a penny to their name to becoming interior design superstars, all while following their motto to “make life beautiful.”
I love this book, the backstory of how the McGees met and how they built such a successful company but also be inspired to build an authentic life by applying design principles such as embracing the process and finding the balance.
If you have a love of Interior Design and loved the Dream Makeover, I think you’ll love this too!
Regardless of where you are in your journey, it’s not about having all the answers – it’s about seeing the potential.
Clea and Joanna are literally girls after my own heart! I only found out about The Home Edit within the last 6 months care of Netflix, and I’m kind of obsessed! Yes, I’m the one who, when I’ve completed a project, even if it’s a cupboard and no one can actually see it, I feel the need to share with the family, oh and maybe Instagram!! The Home Edit certainly Sparks Joy!
Again, like all the books I’m sharing with you, it’s a beautifully photographed book. The Home Edit divided into three simple sections:
The Edit, The Assembly and the Upkeep.
They are quoted as saying “if we can do it, so can you” and with this very handy guide, it’s certainly true. No, you don’t need to go and buy zillions of jars, labels etc (and yes of course they have their own products, which are stunning!) but they key is having a system in place, bringing everything together, keeping things simply that can help you “conquer the clutter with style.” This book actually has a starter set of labels to help you create the look below in your fridge. Fabulous!
This book is basically part two to The Home Edit. Now you have the basic systems in place, Clea and Joanna talk you through how to harness these systems to all aspects of your life, not just your fridge and pantry!
Having used these systems for a number of months now (and I thought I was organised!) I can safely say that The Home Edit has made life simpler, less cluttered, and it’s a joy to open any cupboard now. Well, mostly, I still have a few to go, but I’m certainly in a more systemised place than this time last year. It’s the little things that make the big things come together!
Scandi Rustic – creating a cosy and happy home – Rebecca Lawson and Reena Simon
I first discovered Becca and Reena, who you may know as Malmo and Moss and Hygge for Home, through Instagram and their beautifully curated feed of images of their cosy, Scandinavian style homes. Scandi Rustic is their first book, and they reveal how to create a home that takes elements of Scandinavian design and introduces rustic natural materials and textures to create a Scandi-inspired interior that is cosy, relaxed and inviting.
Becca and Reena showcase the very best in Scandi Rustic homes, so whether you live in an urban apartment, a country cottage or a blank canvas new-build, this relaxed, sustainable, modern rustic style will work perfectly for your home. if you love this style, you’ll love this book!
Scandi Rustic – creating a cosy and happy home – Rebecca Lawson and Reena Simon
“Now imagine yourself living in a space that contains only things that spark joy. Isn’t this the lifestyle you dream of?”
I really hope you enjoy these books as much as I have. It really does make a huge difference having an organised home, whether it be your linen cupboard, kitchen, or the drawer in your console table in your hallway, not just because everything is in it’s place and easily found but I find having a clear decluttered space, I can work more effectively too, my brain is a little less muddled too! I have loved reading all the tips from each book and have adapted them to fit my home and lifestyle. Each book would make a fantastic present, without breaking the bank, for you or someone you know who loves feeling organised and having a practical yet stylish home.
Let me know which of these books is your favourite or perhaps you can recommend a book I haven’t yet discovered?
What’s next on the blog?
Over the next couple of weeks on the Blog, I’ll be sharing with you my kitchen pantry makeover, together with ideas to spring clean your home and garden ready to welcome your special guests back into your home post lockdown (fingers crossed!) I also have a couple of exciting giveaways to help you and am so excited to share with you on my instagram so do head over and join in the conversation! Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a Blog post – it’ll arrive straight to your inbox and I promise, no spam!
The hours blur into days, and the to-do list somehow grows longer. The truth is, we don’t always need a full day to make progress. Sometimes, an hour is all it takes to shift your mood, clear your space, or move something important forward.
I call this The Power of an Hour, a simple mindset shift to help you focus, reduce overwhelm, and create meaningful change in small, steady steps.
Charlie Mackesy has captured the nations hearts during the Pandemic, putting into words and images what many of us have felt..
Why An Hour Matters
When life feels busy or you’re stuck in that “all or nothing” mindset, it’s easy to put things off until you have more time. But waiting for perfect conditions often means doing nothing at all.
One focused hour can transform how you feel — mentally, physically, emotionally. It creates movement, momentum, and a little spark of calm in the chaos.
“Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good, behave yourself and never mind the rest.”
Beatrix Potter
How to Use Your Hour Wisely
You don’t need to plan it perfectly. Simply choose one small area of life that could benefit from your attention.
Here are a few gentle ideas to get started:
Tidy one space — a kitchen drawer, your desk, or the corner that’s been quietly bothering you.
Move your body — a walk by the sea, yoga in the living room, or a home workout that lifts your energy.
Prepare for the week ahead — plan meals, sort laundry, or lay out tomorrow’s clothes.
Connect — call someone you’ve been meaning to catch up with.
Reflect — journal, read a chapter of something inspiring, or simply sit with a cup of tea and breathe.
An hour spent intentionally can bring more peace than a whole day of rushing.
Make It A Habit
Try scheduling a “Power Hour” once or twice a week. Protect it like an appointment. Use it to do something that will make life feel lighter or more aligned.
The goal isn’t perfection, it’s progress, clarity, and calm.
A Little Inspiration
If you’d like to explore this idea further, I highly recommend The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle — a beautiful reminder to slow down and live more consciously in the present moment. you’re thinking about which positive actions to do, break it down into little areas and ask;
Mark Twain that said, “Dance like nobody’s watching; love like you’ve never been hurt. Sing like nobody’s listening; live like it’s heaven on earth.
Mark Twain
Some Simple Ideas to Try
Turn up your favourite song and have a kitchen dance. Instant mood-lifter!
Plant some bulbs or herbs on your windowsill — nurturing growth reminds us of hope.
Go for a walk somewhere new — fresh air and change of scenery do wonders.
Try a #powerofanhour to tackle something you’ve been avoiding. You’ll be amazed what an hour of focus can do. (Read more about it here)
Move your body gently — yoga, stretching, or even a short walk can lift your spirits.
Write down three things you’re grateful for — it’s a proven way to shift perspective.
Remember: it’s not about doing it all. It’s about doing something.
There are hundreds of apps out there that can help you too including Headspace, Mind Detox and Gaia are all favourites of mine.
“Your now is not your forever”
I love this quote, it’s a gentle reminder that while we may feel overwhelmed at times, it won’t last forever. Simple, steady steps can help us find our calm again.
Continue Your Mission.
If you enjoyed exploring The Power of an Hour, you might also love these reads from the Woman on a Mission archive — each one designed to inspire calm, focus and a little everyday joy:
An hour might not sound like much, but used with intention, it can be truly powerful. You don’t need to overhaul your life, just start with one calm, focused hour.
Because one hour can change your day. And enough of those days can change your life.
I’d love to know, what’s one small positive action you’ll take today? Share your thoughts in the comments below or connect with me on Instagram — I always love hearing how you bring these ideas to life. Let’s inspire each other, one simple step at a time. 🌿
I’m the creator of Woman on a Mission, a lifestyle space dedicated to helping women bring more calm, confidence and balance into everyday life. Born from my own journey to slow down and live with greater intention, it offers inspiration around wellbeing, organisation, home and mindset, one meaningful mission at a time
Find a planner that works for you. it sounds really obvious but get to know it, spend time looking at all its functions so you are able to use it to your best advantage.
