The Andrassy Living Blog
Ile de Re, France - My Travel Blog
As you know, I was on holiday last week, sunning myself in France with my family. We visited the beautiful island of Ile de Re and I thought I’d give you a very small insight into our stay as I highly recommend visiting this stunning island that is a very short hop over the bridge from La Rochelle airport (we flew from Bristol so very easy indeed).
My Favourite Somerset Restaurants (& Drinking Establishments!)
As I am making an effort to frequent as many pubs and restaurants as possible in Somerset (just to familiarise myself with the area and to support the amazing hospitality that we have on offer in the county you understand), I thought I would give you an update on my latest findings as it’s always good to share.
Rhubarb Rhubarb Rhubarb!
I already have a glut of rhubarb in the garden - what the devil shall I do with it? Well on researching, I have discovered that I can just chop it all up and stick it straight into the freezer as it is. Then when I come to make a crumble or a chutney, I can use a handful straight from frozen which makes life much easier.
The Storage Bag (with handles). How do you use yours?!
Just a little post on the fabulously versatile and gloriously simple Storage Bag. It squashes down completely flat when not in use and has a handy handle so you can hang it on the back of a bathroom door or in a cloakroom to corral hats and gloves.
Live better, longer
‘Blue Zones’. Heard of them? It’s a term used by National Geographic Fellow, Dan Buettner, used to describe areas of the world in which people live longer. According to Dan, there are five of these zones in the world (Sardinia in Italy, Okinawa in Japan, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, Ikaria in Greece and Loma Linda in California) and their secret is down to a number of habits that he calls the ‘Power 9’………
How to Refresh Your Home after the festivities
Now that we’re firmly into 2023 and you’ve got the Christmas decs packed up, the house is probably looking a little bare so it’s the perfect time to add a couple of elements to refresh things…..
How to do Christmas Day (according to me!)
Well I’m no authority but given that I’m hosting this year I’ve done a bit of research / flicked through some lovely Christmassy magazines and looked at the pretty pictures!
How to Create the Perfect Tablescape….. and make your guests feel loved
So, number one, a fabulous tablescape doesn’t necessarily involve going out and buying loads of new stuff although it is lovely to refresh what you have with some new napkins or a fabulous tablecloth, or just add a pop of colour with some dinner candles (I have plenty to choose from at the shop!)
Indoor Plants - good for your health and great for your home
.... house plants have long been conceived as slightly old-fashioned, plus lots of us are rather put off by the fact that we forget to water them and they collect dust but I'm here to convince you otherwise. Trust me, some are dead easy to look after (pardon the pun) and they'll really transform the look and feel of your home.
Who doesn’t love cushions? (Apart from menfolk - they’re generally not so keen!)
Yes honestly, a beautiful cushion really can put a smile on your face every day, especially if it’s well-made, in a gorgeous fabric and comfortable to sit on / lean against / cry into!
Don’t Tempt Fate!
Today, I put a sign up outside, encouraging people to pop in and say hello (it’s 35 bloody degrees out there so I need to encourage the only 3 people brave enough to walk around Ilminster today to cross the threshold!). At 12.10 an older lady walked in and asked if she could have a browse (I know this because I’m now keeping a list of everyone who comes into my shop, the time they enter and how long they stay - I know!) Anyway, 45 minutes later she left, having told me her life story and repeatedly telling me, “Don’t tempt fate!”
Andrassy Living Opens in Ilminster
Well I’ve been open for exactly 3 days! The [actual] doors to Andrassy Living in Ilminster opened on Wednesday 20th July and my lifelong dream of being a shopkeeper was realised (I really wanted to be a sweet shop lady but I have progressed to interiors and fashion - who knows, maybe I’ll stock some sweets too!)
