Love: SheerLuxe

I make no secret that I'm a digital kind of girl, scouring the web for inspiration, new finds and information.  So I love it when I find a site that amalgamates everything I need in to one location, and no one does it better than SheerLuxe.com.  I have used this handy and oh so fashionable website for years.  I would be positively gleeful when I received an e-newletter from them when I worked my 9-5pm office job, giving me a little excuse to procrastinate and wander through their digital world of high fashion, fabulous interiors and beauty advice, from the very best of  what the World Wide Web has to offer.  That's right, SheerLuxe is different as it only showcases things that are available to buy online.  So these dream like products are only a few clicks away!  

SheerLuxe Homepage

I am an online shopping-oholic, I love the convenience of shopping in my pyjamas, browsing everything I need to buy from the comfort my sofa with the dog snuggled on my knee.  It's easy, reliable and adds a perk to your day when a parcel is delivered to your home or office.  It's like receiving a gift - bought and paid for by yourself but hey ho, a 3-5 day delivery time can erase that part from your memory.  

I admit it, I am bias about this online shopping malarky, I have worked in the business for years and now own my very own online boutique.  But this 'insider knowledge' has made me quickly aware of what makes a bad 'online' experience, and therefore I feel I am allowed to gloat about SheerLuxe and its usability...and above all the gorgeous products it showcases that makes my Mastercard twitch inside my purse.  

There is so much to SheerLuxe but I would recommend the following:  

• Their blogs.  I love reading new blogs and SheerLuxe have every corner covered, from beauty, fashion and recipes, pop this on your 'Must Read' list.  

• I make a point of looking through their Hot Products as they always seem to stumble upon something fabulous and new.  

• Everyone loves a bargain so check out their offers page for discounts in lots of lovely online boutiques. 

I hope I have let you in to a little online secret.  Happy browsing!

Let's Cook - Top 5 Cookery Books

So, I have a slight addiction.  One that even exceeds my Anya Hindmarch handbag collection.  Cookery books.  Yes, you heard it right, I cannot stop buying cookery books!  It stems from my mothers extensive collection of recipes that she has collected over the years and now I’m getting quite the collection myself.  Also, I have a partner in crime; the boyfriend is as bad as I am!  Admittedly we are both foodies, not in the snooty fine dining sense (even though we love to partake), but just in a food sense.  Good quality, tasty food!  Whether it is buffets, comfort food, a Sunday roast or a light salad, together we seem to have a book for every occasion.  

At the moment we are in the process of planning, in my opinion, the most exciting part of the house renovation – the kitchen.   So I am trying to find a home for our growing collection of cookery books, which are currently sprawled in boxes, here there and everywhere.  In unopened boxes at the house, at my parents home, and at the boyfriends pad in London.  

We are lucky enough to have a gorgeous Georgian marble fireplace in our kitchen, so I am thinking about converting the alcoves either side of the fireplace in to a dedicated cookery bookshop…we just require some shelves, a joiner and to retrieve all the books from their hiding places!

I long for the day for when I will have the time to cook from each and every recipe book, however until this day comes I will simply have to use my time at the weekends more wisely and begin to crack open the summer inspired books to create an al fresco feast or two. 

Here are Butterfly Lane’s top 5 cookery books from my collection…at the moment!

English Food by Jane Grigson

Invest in a classic

‘’A selection of traditional and modern recipes as well as informative, evocative discussion on the orgins of all kinds of British food.’’

This book can be classed as your cooking manual.  It covers all food and prefers quality to quantity, and the writing is just sublime.  Think soups, hot crossed buns, roast dinners, everything that is British and fabulous. 

Thai Food by David Thomas

The modern choice 

This book is the bible of all things Thai food.  With his extraordinary knowledge Thomas brilliantly captures the essentials of an entire cuisine.  Covering one of the most complex, wide ranging cuisines in the world.  Let your taste buds go in to over drive and invest in this book.

Bocca

The Restaurant Cookery Book

Bocca di Lupo is London’s premier, award winning Italian restaurant in the heart of Soho and the accompanying book by head chef Jacob Kenedy allows you to bring the experience in to your own kitchen.  Kenedy travelled the length and bredth of Italy over the course of a year, gathering his favourite recipes, many of them obscure and slightly bizarre but all absolutely delicious.  The chef declares, ‘’be warned – this is a cookbook with teeth’’.  The recipes are accompanied by a stories from his travels, which not only makes this book is a must read, the restaurant is a must visit too, and his recipes…well, you must recreate! 

Voluptuous Delights by Sophie Dahl

The obligatory celebrity cookbook

I fell in love with Sophie Dahl’s whimsically and poetic take on cooking during her BBC cookery series, and I equally love her book.  Full of enchanting stories and gorgeously indulgent recipes.  Divided in to the seasons, the book is clear and the recipes easy to recreate.  In fact a few of her recipes are in my ‘cook everyday’ repertoire, including her punchy tomato and red onion soup, a flavorsome shepherd’s pie and her orange victoria sponge recipe with homemade jam, which I use for every birthday cake I make.  Don’t be put off by the ‘model turned chef’ element of this book, the essence is amazing food by a genuine food lover. 

Complete Traditional Recipe Book by The National Trust

For the Aga Owners

Now that I rely on an Aga for all my culinary requirements, this book is great as every recipe is converted in an Aga format, which is very handy for an Aga novice like myself.  Jam packed with over 300 traditional British recipes:  Apple Crumbles, Bread and Butter Pudding, Lancashire Hot Pot, Bubble and Squeak,  oh my mouth is watering as I type!  Including sections on preserves, drinks and confectionary, along with a background knowledge on key dishes, this is a definite for your collection, even if you don’t have an Aga!

My Wish List: 

Modernist Cuisine:  The Art and Science of Cooking by Nathan Myhrvold (and team)

Wow, this collection of six books is definitely on my wish list.   It is virtually an encyclopedia of cooking with 1500 recipes of scientific, laboratory inspired creations.  The main pull of this book to me is the incredible photography.  Everything is photographed with a cross-section perspective, with incredible results.  However, with the £400 price tag these books are very expensive, maybe one to save for!

Amazing images from the book


If you have any cookery books that you cannot live without please get in touch and let Butterfly Lane know, as I always need an excuse to add to my collection! 

Happy cooking everyone…X 

Reign Supreme: The Diamond Jubilee

Our gracious Queen is to celebrate 60 years on the throne on 5 June and the country is gearing up for one hell of a party.  From street parties to garden parties galore, village fetes and afternoon tea's, we are all feeling terribly British right now!  The main focus of the celebrations are in London town, and they are preparing to light up the city with spectacular events.  I am particularly looking forward to seeing the Thames Pageant, with over a thousands boats floating down the Thames, it’ll be one of the biggest flotillas ever assembled on the river, and it is sure to be an amazing sight! 

Sketch of how the Thames Boat Pageant will look

The shops are bursting with commemorative merchandise and I’m already getting in on the game.  I have just bought this fabulous tin of biscuits from the British favourite M&S, I’m so loving the keep-sake tin!  I must admit that I am a sucker for a collectable tin, I have a lot!  My excuse is that you never know when you’ll need one…to transport cakes and biscuits…to use as storage, the options are endless.  Another purchase has been bought today, my favourite  elderflower cordial has had a very patriotic makeover in ode of the Jubilee celebrations.  Love!

M&S Diamond Jubilee Biscuit Tin 

Belvoir Patriotic Elderflower

Here at Butterfly Lane we are loving what Harvey Nichols are doing for the Jubilee celebrations.  Their tongue in cheek designs are so much fun, I think a purchase might well be on the horizion!  This fabulously fun lunch box (£14.95) is in homage to a former royal footsmans revelation that Her Majesty keeps her corn flakes in Tupperware.  So why not keep your sandwiches or corn flakes in royal realms too!

Celebrate the Queens Jubilee with the most beloved of British drinks...tea!  These whimsical tea bags are so much fun and a steal at £4.95!

Also, these themed biscuits by Biscuiteers are just the ticket so go with your English cuppa!  Prices start at £9.00.

Pimms is by far the obligatory British drink for a hot summer’s day of celebration.  Here’s how to get the perfect mix…

• Mix one part Pimms 
• Three parts lemonade
• Add sprigs of mint
• Add slices of cucumber
• Add orange segments 
• Add fresh strawberries 
• Serve over ice

Tally ho, get the Pimms ready, finger sandwiches prepared, hang the bunting and let’s have a jolly good time!

It's A Dog's Life

This is one for the dog lovers amongst us.  Bill & Eddie are my new found and favourite dog outfitters for my beloved pup Maggie, with a whole host of doggy lifestyle products available to buy online.  Selling everything from Bristol glazed ceramic bowls, super stylish leads, home baked organic treats and quintessentially British tweed dog jackets that will keep her stylishly warm and dry during walkies.  Their ethos is that even our dogs belonging should look great in our homes and here at Butterfly Lane we whole-heartedly concur. 

Owner Amy explained her philosophy on their website ‘’So fed up were we of hiding our dog bowls every time a friend dropped by that we decided to get out there and find products to be proud of.’’

My unashamedly spoilt furry friend received a special present from Bill & Eddie in the post this week (well, courtesy of moi!).   A pretty, floral liberty print collar and lead, perfect for her leap in to Spring!  It was delightfully wrapped, almost too good to open!  Thank you Bill & Eddie, you have one happy owner on your hands…and one stylish looking dog!  We will definitely be back for more…X

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Personally, I'm not overly fussed about Valentine's Day, the less said about sitting trapped in a restaurant eating an overpriced set meal the better.  But saying this, is it always nice to receive a card from your beloved.  Mine read 'We Go Together Like Tea and Biscuits', he knows my penchant for anything sweet all too well, hence him being armed with a lovely selection of the most stunningly packaged macaroons I have ever seen from Laduree.  They have now almost all been devoured!

Men take note, you can send flowers any day of the year, for absolutely no reason at all, you don't have to wait until 14 February.  Being sent flowers is right up there on my most favourite list, there is always room for flowers in my house!  A pretty bunch of flowers really does lift your mood, whether it's a bunch of daffodils, some cuttings from your garden, or something rather wonderful from The Real Flower Company.  They really do the most stunning arrangements, I suggest you check them out.  I particularly love how they are delivered in hat boxes, how divine!  X