Posts tagged with ‘Wellbeing’

  • Jun102020
    The best water kefir recipe - the hunt is over (for now) For all water kefir fans out there - I've just discovered my absolute favourite water kefir recipe so far - Elderflower kefir. Easy as pie (well, much easier than pie actually).⁠ So many people messaged me on my Chalk & Moss Instagram asking for the recipe, so I'm sharing this superfood recipe with you all here. I'll break it into steps for experienced kefir makers and novices alike.  What is water kefir? Many have heard of milk kefir, a liquid sort of yoghurt full of good gut bacteria. But you can also make water kefir with the grains, a wonderful and healthy fizzy drink, often flavoured. Kefir, being a fermented probiotic drink, does wonders for your gut health, digestion and immune system. Water kefir is of course a great choice for those with lactose intolerance. To make water kefir, all you need is water, sugar and kefir grains.  You then add flavouring, such as elderflower, strawberries or dried fruit. See full recipe here.

    Water kefir recipe – elderflower kefir is THE BEST

    The best water kefir recipe – the hunt is over (for now) For all you water kefir fans out there…

    Read more
  • May122020

    Table for One: Dine alone in Swedish meadow and name your price

    “Table for One”, or “Bord för En” is one couple’s answer to how to enjoy a restaurant meal during Coronavirus.…

    Read more
  • May062020
    Wild garlic pasta recipe - home made pasta dough, cooked and served with oven baked salmon.

    Wild garlic pasta recipe: dough is easier than you’d think!

    Wild garlic pasta recipe – fresh pasta dough I thought I’d tried every wild garlic recipe out there, until I…

    Read more
  • Apr082020
    We had the fortune of stumbling on this vast field of wild garlic. At home, we made several wild garlic recipes, including wild garlic pesto and wild garlic salt.

    Wild garlic recipes – wild garlic pesto & wild garlic salt

    Wild garlic recipes – easy, healthy and satisfying I love spring! Foraging new growth and having fun with wild garlic…

    Read more
  • Mar182020
    Where to eat in Brighton : I visited Kindling, a new restaurant in Brighton based on zero waste, local produce & healthy eating. Check out this taster menu! The environment is a biophilic design dream. Scandi wood cabin chic, plants a plenty, and the menu calls out to eat natural and eat local.  Your eyes are drawn from the beautiful wooden tables and chairs upwards along the plants, hanging like a curtain that continue towards the high ceilings. It's like industrial meets plant filled log cabin, it's just lush. It's a stone's throw from Brighton beach and the shops in the Lanes, so the perfect spot.  The all British taster menu we were treated to included UK grown tomatoes, local wasabi, venison and beef from the Knepp estate re-wilding project (and via the gun shop across the road!), and of course lots of wild garlic. Yes, the wild garlic season is here! (if you're after a foraging bag, check this best seller out). Beef is also sourced from Herstmonceux and Ditchling, while lamb comes from Saddlescomb Farm, all in the Sussex area. 

    Where to eat in Brighton – Kindling – local, natural food

    You may not be thinking about where to eat in Brighton today. But one day, we’ll be allowed out to…

    Read more
  • Nov252019
    Fjällräven Polar is a 300km mission across Arctic Scandinavia with huskies. I'm at my most alive when I'm in the wilderness and, as a UK raised Swede, I long to rediscover my native Sweden in its rawest form. It's a personal mission and to show my kids what I - and they - are capable of. To inspire them as the next generation of adventurous explorers, using our bodies as nature intended. I've applied to represent Sweden and Nordic East in this contest. Please vote for me and share the link!

    Fjallraven Polar – VOTE for my ARCTIC adventure!

    Fjallraven Polar: Please Vote & Share to make my Arctic dream come true! I come asking for your help. More…

    Read more
  • Oct232019
    Are you wondering what to do with your leftover pumpkin this Halloween? Before you ditch the inside scoop, put the flesh to one side and pick a Halloween pumpkin recipe (or any pumpkin for that matter!). This is a great step to take as eco activism becomes more widespread, thanks to people like Greta Thunberg. Halloween pumpkins are beautiful, fun and delicious. But this year, more than 8 million pumpkins will be thrown out uneaten after Halloween festivities - this equals 18,000 tonnes of edible pumpkin flesh! 60% of those buying fresh pumpkins don't use the flesh. So surely we should ask ourselves what to do with leftover pumpkin before sending this innocent produce to the gallows. Simple pumpkin soup - There are so many variations on the classic pumpkin soup. So start with this super simple classic pumpkin soup recipe from Cafe Delights, with potatoes and broth, and go from there. You can then choose to add coconut milk, maple syrup, curry powder, chilli or herbs. Why not try toppings like creme fraiche or cream, toasted seeds, almonds, fresh coriander, pomegranate and more.  Photo: Ella Olsson on Unsplash

    What to do with leftover pumpkin – 6 Halloween pumpkin recipes

    Are you wondering what to do with your leftover pumpkin this Halloween? Before you ditch the inside scoop, put the…

    Read more
  • Sep252019
    Looking for things to do in Sweden? Småland's forests, archipelago and sandy beaches with pine trees offer wild camping, kayaking, hiking and biking. This is an island in the archipelago, where you're free to use the wind shelters and outdoor cooking area for a night.

    Things to do in Sweden – camping & kayaking in Småland

    When thinking of things to do in Sweden, British tourists often associate Sweden with Stockholm’s beautiful archipelago, the long beaches…

    Read more
  • May152019
    Flower press with flowers that have been left to flatten and dry for two weeks. The flower press is available at chalkandmoss.com.

    Mental Health Awareness: “Why am I so different?”

    This is a note on the topic of kids mental health awareness, particularly timely as we’re in the middle of…

    Read more
  • Apr032019
    Linda Bloomfield at her pottery wheel in her West London studio.

    Why stories matter: ethical shopping for natural interiors

    Stories give products and interior designs an overall consistent theme. In Swedish, we call this the invisible “röd tråd”, literally,…

    Read more
  • Mar202019
    This woman is standing among the trees in the forest, looking up, contemplating, or perhaps looking at a bird. Spending time in nature does wonders for body and mind.

    Forest Bathing -Shinrin Yoku- how it boosts body & mind

    Have you heard about Forest Bathing and wondered what it is? Or perhaps your mood lightens after spending time in…

    Read more
  • Feb132019
    A cabin in the woods. Peace and tranquility in extreme weather excites and calms the soul. Image by Mauro Zamarian on Unsplash.com.

    A cabin in the Woods: 5 of the best

    Why does a cabin in the woods speak to our senses so deeply? Think about the times when you felt…

    Read more
  • Jan102019
    Wondering which is the best house plant to buy for your home or office? Go for both air purifying plants like peace lily or spider plants, combined with impressive big leaf plants like this cheese plant (aka monstera deliciosa) for maximum impact and benefit. Photo by Brina Blum on Unsplash

    Best Indoor Plants: celebrate Houseplant Appreciation Day

    You’ll no doubt have seen the huge increase in houseplant popularity this year. So you may now ask yourself, which…

    Read more
  • Dec182018
    This year, give yourself a break from fighting with sellotape and paper that won’t cut or fold evenly. Instead, make an eco friendly, beautiful, simple and quick Furoshiki wrap. A beautiful wrap can be a gift in itself.

    How to make a knot wrap – Japanese Furoshiki wrap

    Eco gift wrapping is finally starting to get some respect, no least with the Japanese furoshiki knot wrap. This year,…

    Read more
  • Dec122018
    Pillowy snow in morning light, Sweden, close to winter solstice. Photo by Anna Sjostrom Walton, Chalk & Moss.

    Winter Solstice – kitchen textiles for shortest day of the year

    Winter solstice, or midwinter, marks the shortest day of the year and when the sun sits lowest at midday. In…

    Read more
  • Nov212018

    Shop small on Green Friday – Indie Friday – Small Business Saturday

    In the midst of hysteria around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there are some great initiatives out there the likes…

    Read more
  • Oct042018
    The juniper hot smoked salmon is nearly ready! See how it's crisped at the bottom of the salmon fillet and still wobbly on top? Perfect! In this recipe from Food from the Fire, you don't wait for charcoal but cook on the naked flame with juniper bushes for an extra special smoky flavour.

    Hot smoked salmon recipe – Food from the Fire

    Hot smoked salmon connects my senses to the wild nature and outdoor life that I love. And it’s so easy…

    Read more
  • Jul122018
    Homeware products for Plastic Free July, with great alternatives to plastic bags, packaging and household cloths.

    How’s Plastic Free July Going? Your Tips & Product Guide is Here

    Plastic Free July is already well under way! This initiative, aiming to encourage the reduced use of plastics, started in Australia in…

    Read more
  • Jul042018
    Kokedama balls can be made with large or small plants. Ferns and tropical plants are particularly suitable. The Cheese Plant (Monstera Deliciosa) print is by Dollybirds Art, available in the Chalk & Moss online shop. Learn how to make kokedama balls on the Chalk & Moss blog.

    How to Make Kokedama Balls (Japanese Moss Balls)

    I recently learned how to make kokedama balls. I could pretend I’ve mastered some complicated art, but it was so…

    Read more
  • May152018
    Find out how to make elderflower cordial on Chalk & Moss (chalkandmoss.com). Elderflower cordial is one of the big joys of spring! So easy to make, and so satisfying to drink! Follow this simple recipe on ChalkandMoss.com

    How to make elderflower cordial – easy & refreshing summer in a bottle!

    If you’re wondering how to make elderflower cordial, then read on. Here’s a very simple yet deliciously refreshing recipe. Elderflower cordial…

    Read more
  • Mar262018
    Finland is the Happiest country in the world of 2018, according to the latest UN report. The Finns themselves put this down to Sisu; the strength of will and resilience they gain from challenging themselves physically in nature. This includes dipping in freezing waters, where the hormones produced help reduce anxiety, helping them cope with difficult situations. Image by Val Vesa on Unsplash.com.

    Happiest Country in the World – How Does Finland Do It?

    The Happiest Country in the World – How Does Finland Do It? The Finns Credit Sisu; Harnessing Courage in Nature…

    Read more
  • Jan222018
    Best cook books for Scandinavian, Nordic, Middle Eastern, Indian cook books - all with a healthy attitude to food.

    Best Cook Books for Health and Wellbeing

    The best cook books on my shelf are those that prompt me to try new ingredients, combinations and colours. I…

    Read more
  • Jan162018
    Full body workout for my daughter - Nordic skiing in Sälen, Sweden!

    Experiencing Silence, Skiing & Cross-Country Skiing in Sweden – Sälen, Dalarna County

    Record snow falls this Christmas gave us a magical experience skiing and cross-country skiing in Sweden! Born in Stockholm and…

    Read more
  • Dec242017
    mulled wine recipe Swedish glogg recipe with cinnamon, cloves and angostoura bitters

    Mulled Wine Recipe from my Mother in Sweden

    I’m finally going to let you in on our special mulled wine recipe, or Glögg as it’s known in Sweden.…

    Read more
  • Dec192017
    Monstera design as ice sculptures at ice hotel

    ICEHOTEL in Swedish Lapland now open for 2017-18 Season!

    The 28th edition of the famous ICEHOTEL in the Swedish Lapland has now opened its doors for the 2017-18 season!…

    Read more
  • Dec172017
    A geometric hole structure in the ice sculpted ICEHOTEL in Sweden

    ICEHOTEL Sweden 2018: The Final Build Phase

    Today we continue our exclusive look into the making of the 2018 ICEHOTEL Sweden. In case you missed the first…

    Read more
  • Dec142017
    Large wreath for a Swedish Christmas: Magical oversized candle Christmas wreath

    Decorate for a Natural Swedish Christmas

    A Swedish Christmas savours natural smells, soft materials, mood lighting and lots of greenery. Here’s a selection of ways to…

    Read more