Ethical weddings and just because they're such lovely images..

These lovely images caught my eye. The gorgeous dress is from Once Wed via a few things from my life. Once Wed has some great idea for DIY weddings also visit Ethical Weddings and Ruffled.

And I think these bespoke pictures made from newspapers printed on the wedding day or from wedding invitations by sarah & bendrix would make the perfect wedding gift.

And I loved the DIY ideas from the wedding of stylist Marie Nichols of blog a whole lot of lovely

Eat: Homemade elderflower cordial

Put this recipe in your diary for May-early June and get foraging.

You need:

25-30 elderflower heads to 3 litres of water
900 grams sugar
75 grams citric acid
3 lemons / 2 oranges

How to make:

Harvest elderflower heads; Pick from high to avoid animal soiling. Rinse well. Heat water and when warm add sugar, stirring continuously until dissolved. Bring to boiling point. While water is heating; zest oranges and lemons in large strips and cut up lemons and oranges in large slices. Put oranges, lemons and elderflower heads into a large container and pour on boiled water and sugar then add citric acid. Stir well, cover and leave for 24 hrs. After 24 hours strain thoroughly and and add to sterilised bottles.

Tip: Used old screw top wine bottles sterilised/washed in dishwasher.

And I'm told fantastic in a gin and tonic or glass of sparkling wine but wonderful in cupcakes!

Elderflower cupcakes

You need:

110 grams unsalted butter
110 grams castor sugar
50 grams ground almonds
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
4 tbsp elderflower cordial
2 eggs
25 grams self-raising flower
For the icing:
150 grams mascarpone
50 ml double cream
3 tbsp elderflower cordial
90 grams icing sugar
Toasted flaked almonds to sprinkle

How to make:

Beat butter and sugar together till pale and light. Add vanilla, ground almonds and 1 tbsp of cordial, mix then add eggs. Sieve flour and fold in. Spoon the mixture into cupcake cases and bake for 20 mins at 180C/160C fan/Gas 4 until pale golden. Pierce each cupcake a few times with a fine point and drizzle over the cordial cold from the fridge onto the hot cakes. Cool in tin.

For mascarpone icing:

Whisk mascarpone, double cream and icing sugar until thick and creaming, becareful not to over beat. When cool ice cupcakes and decorate with flaked almonds.

Animal Welfare: How many pigs do you think are reared in barren factory systems?

Because so many people around me make good ethical choices about the meat they buy it is easy for me to overlook how much work is still needed to change the attitudes people have to ensuring the meat they buy comes from farms who believe the animals in their care should have a good quality of life before ending up on our table. I was shocked and disheartened to learn from Compassion in World Farming  today that 90% (yes, 90%) of pig meat still comes from barren farming systems. Read The Reality of Factory Farmed Pigs.

Thank goodness for organisations like Compassion in World Farming who are working to change that percentage... are you?

Want to know more?

Image via Compassion in World Farming

Home: Organic bed linen at Pottery Barn

I like floral linen in the bedroom so I am delighted to have come across the gorgeous organic bed linen at Pottery Barn. Their organic cotton range is colourful, feminine and earth friendly.

Interiors: Les Indiennes in a lovely place

Came a cross a mention on Love House Design via Remodelista which featured a gorgeous New York loft owned by Harriet Maxwell and Andrew Corrie. Beautifully put together and I love that they used Les Indiennes fabrics on an internal window.