Drinks For Hot Days

It's been a hot few weeks and if you're getting bored of your usual refreshments here are a few ideas to make things a bit more fun and that are perfect for summer entertaining. 

Pop strawberries in to your ice cube tray for these summery additions to your drink.   

Top tip:  To get super clear ice to show up the fruit use boiled water!

 

Lots of ice, lemonade, with a sprig of lavender...bliss!

Add fresh sprigs of mint in to ice cube trays...

 

Or pomegranate...

 

 

Ice lollies over Prosecco....

 

Let us know how you get on. 

Shuffling & A Taste of Mexico En Su Casa

I have been pretty immobile with a bad back over the last two weeks, which makes me sound a lot older than my 28 years, so I would like to stress that I'm pushing the 'sports injury' reason apposed to the simple carrying of my four year old nephew on my hip (must remember the art of piggy back rides next time!).  It hurts so much that I haven't left the house in 11 whole days, so it must be the cocktail of drugs I have been taking that has blocked the cabin fever from sprouting its ugly head, although I am starting to get a tad twitchy for fresh air and autumn walks *gazes fondly out of the window*

So, with just myself, the pup and my MacBook Pro for daytime entertainment, I decided to whip up a storm in the kitchen and get some friends around for much needed conversation!  I wanted something quick and easy so I wouldn't be on my feet (aka shuffling) for too long.  So I decided on a new food area for me (to cook anyway, I eat it like a pro!)...Mexican!  You might be shocked to hear that I haven't dabbled in this cuisine before, but I usually head down the Italian or British route when I cook, but I heard Mexican is pretty straight forward and good 'help yourself' entertaining grub, so it ticked all the boxes for a semi-mobile me.      

The Menu

Chicken Fajitas 

Patatas Bravas 

Spicy Rice 

Tomato Salsa 

Guacamole

Grated Cheddar Cheese

Chicken Fajitas for 4

Ingredients

2 red peppers

2 red onions

3 skinless boneless chicken breast

1 teaspoon of smoked paprika

1 small pinch of ground cumin 

2 limes

Olive oil

Black pepper

8 tortillas

Method

1.  Get a griddle pan piping hot

2.  Cut the peppers, onions and chicken in to strips and pop in a bowl together

3.  Add the cumin and paprika

4.  Squeeze over the juice of 1 lime

4.  Drizzle with a lug of olive oil and season with pepper

5.  Mix well and let it rest for 5 - 10 minutes

6.  Pop in the hot griddle for 8-10 minutes until cooked through and place in a serving bowl

7.  Heat the tortillas for a couple of minutes.

Tomato Salsa

Ingredients

1 fresh chilli

20 ripe cherry tomatos

A small bunch of fresh coriander

Black pepper 

1 Lime 

Olive oil

Method

1.  Finely chop the chilli

2.  Chop the tomatoes in to little pieces

3.  Add in the coriander

4.  Add salt and pepper and the juice of 1 lime

5.  Add a good splash of olive oil and stir.

*Grate the cheese as an accompaniment and pop the guacamole in to a serving dish (I was naughty and bought 'store bought' guacamole...and spicy rice for that matter...I was ill!  *excuses)

Patatas Bravas 

Oh I could eat these potatoes all day long!  Here is how quick and simple they are to make.

Ingredients

Potatoes

1 small onion

2 garlic cloves

225g of tinned chopped tomatoes

1 tablespoon of tomato puree

2 teaspoons of paprika

A good pinch of chilli powder

Pinch of sugar

Chopped fresh parsley

Method

1.  Chop your potatoes in to little cubes, pop them in a roasting tin with a generous lug of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Cook on a high heat for 50 minutes.  But keep checking them and give them an occasional stir.

2.  Fry the chopped onion in a pan until soft

3.  Add in all the other ingredients and bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes until pulpy  

4.  Once the potatoes are crispy, place in a serving bowl and pour the 'sauce' over the top

5.  Garnish with freshly chopped parsley.

I hoped this has inspired you to whip up a quick and easy Mexican meal this weekend.  I might just do it again.  

What is your favourite Mexican dish?  

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Last of the Summer Soiree

So August bank holiday weekend is fast approaching, a weekend that symbolises, dare I say it...the end of summer!  So with this in mind I think we should embrace this extended weekend and enjoy some summertime living, even if the weather isn't up to scratch.  I'm thinking Pimms, sundresses and sombreros...erm, maybe we should leave the sombrero!  

Anyway with this in mind here are some gorgeous outdoor spaces to inspire you to create a summertime oasis of your very own.  

I just love fairy lights outside, they are festive, subtle and above all oh so elegant.  I have invested in some solar powered fairy lights this year that I have simply wrapped amongst the wall climbing plants and trees, so come nightfall they sparkle.  

The Butterfly Lane al fresco collection is just so chic (even if we say it ourselves!).  It looks like your most treasured crystal but in fact it's acrylic!  This collection can also be used for inside soirees throughout the rest of the year.  I like to get cost per use out of my purchases, so I know I'll be using the stunning salad bowl time and time again.  

View the full al fresco collection here

No party would be complete without the cocktail du jour, so here is a favourite at Butterfly Lane HQ, which was first discovered at The Booking Office at the St Pancras Renaissance.  I hope you enjoy it!  

The Champagne Cobbler:

1 slice of orange

1 lemon wedge

1 fresh, skinless, pineapple wedge

3/4 oz Maraschino liqueur

4 oz Champagne 

Muddle the fruit an Maraschino at the bottom of a bar glass.  Add ice and Champagne, stir gently and strain in to a Champagne flute.  Garnish with orange peel and serve.  Et voila!  

  

Anyway, here's hoping for a beautiful September so we can extend our summertime fun a bit longer.  

Remember to look at our new online boutique!  We hope you like it.  

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The Perfect Guest Room

You might have noticed that it has been a little quiet of late here on Butterfly Lane.  We are ridiculously busy putting the final touches on our online boutique that will be launching very very soon!  But I must admit I have been feeling lots of guilt about neglecting our little blog and I have missed it very much indeed.  Therefore, I thought I would say a quick hello and write a small blog...

The work continues at Beech House and we were lucky enough to have a house full of family last weekend to really crack on with the ever growing list of 'things to do' on the renovation project.  However, due to the lack of furniture at the moment, it was air mattresses all round and it got me thinking about creating the perfect guest rooms for our guests in the future.  

Relaxing and Country Style Bedroom

I really want my home decor to flow easily from room to room so I will be, of course, focusing on a neutral base for these rooms.  Guest rooms have to be relaxing and simple, with everything that your visitors require.  

Feminine and French Inspired Curtains

Dramatic Head Board

Chic Greys and Taupes

Elegant Suite

I want the chicness and sophistication of a boutique hotel but with the homeliness of a country retreat. 

Boutique Hotel Chic

Accessories wise, I love the idea of a small vase of water and two water glasses on the bedside table, towels perched at the end of the bed...but not as far as chocolates on the pillows!  Because, remember, you do want your guests to eventually leave, so don't make them too comfortable in their stylish surroundings!  

Now I must get back to creating the website...can't wait for you all to see it!  

Wedding Table Settings For The Wedding Guide

I write a monthly blog post for The Wedding Guide and July's addition is all about creating fabulous and above all, individual table settings.  I hope you like it...

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Everyone wants a spectacular wedding day, full of beauty and elegance, and here at Butterfly Lane we think it’s so important to inject your individuality in to your special day.  The finishing touches and design details are statements that can truly express your personality and should not be overlooked. 

A Fairy Tale Wedding

Table settings are one of many ways to add style, glamour and elegance in to your wedding day.  The wedding breakfast is a focal point of the reception and a place where you and your guests will be sat for many a happy hour toasting you and your partner, so you better make it as fabulous as possible…no pressure at all!

Today I am going to be talking about centre pieces.  A fabulous centre piece really showcases the style of your wedding, especially as it is paramount to your colour theme.  Here are some images that are really fuelling my inspiration at the moment. 

The long tables on these images are elegantly set for socialising.  The dramatic flower arrangements are tall enough not only to make a fantastic first impression but also enables guests to easily converse.   Add in lots of sparkling glassware and hey presto a wedding breakfast to die for! 

Elegant Sparkling Glass with Tall Vases

Sparkling Glassware - Divine!

Hydrangeas are the flower du jour for me, and this exquisite centre piece adds an understated elegance to a very plain and simple table design.  Just gorgeous!

Dramatic Hydrangea Centre Piece

A vintage tea party theme is forever popular with brides-to-be and the pretty flower displays in this image adds a whimsical and romantic feel to the table.  Finish off by filling vintage style teacups and saucers with fresh blooms to sit next to each guest, divine!  Who needs favours…

Vintage Tea Party Anyone?

For an understated and oh so chic look, multiple arrangements look just fabulous on a table.  Keep the bouquets low and stumpy, to give a gorgeous and extravagant look to a table.   Intersperse long, tapered candles for added elegance.   

Multiple Flower Arrangements Look Just Stunning

I hope I have inspired you to create a stand out table setting for your wedding day.   If you require any help for your wedding day styling please contact me for further information on  nikkiwright@butterflylane.co.uk

Dining Room Decadence

The dining room is a room that, lets face it, is used pretty infrequently if you have a kitchen/diner.  However, it always adds a sense of occasion when you use this room, as it is earmarked for special occasions - Christmas, dinner parties and birthday's.  I always remember my mother's dining room, shut off from everyday use, with cabinets full of her best china and crystal, with the walnut table glossed to an inch of its life, the smell of polish overwhelming!  However, I think dining room's should be embraced as an everyday room and I have been inspired by some absolutely gorgeous images.  The images below still have an air of formality and celebration but are absolutely liveable...

So, the table is very important.  At the moment I love the idea of a large round table, they add a point of difference compared to your usual rectangular option but are also a lot more sociable, as a table full of guests can interact with each other a lot easier.  

Gorgeous chandelier hanging over the round table

Sometimes a dining room can conjure up images of dark, serious rooms.  However, here at Butterfly Lane we are about light and airy spaces, sophisticated but completely liveable.  By using beautiful accessories, like sparkling chandeliers, glassware, candle holders and fresh flowers it will individualise the room and create a space that is liveable and welcoming but with will still have that important design twist.  

Great lights add interest to a simple table

Perfectly set for a dinner party with ample of fresh flowers

A simple room with minimal accessories

This dining room has a little more 'quirk' to it and the lights that hang over the table are such a statement.  The green tone add warmth and welcome, and the contrasting fabric on the two carver chairs adds an individual twist on the otherwise simple room.  

Make your dining room an everyday space and try not to lock it away waiting for a special occasion.  


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Summer Heat

Well, rather disappointingly the weather has turned to the chilly (and wet) side here in England.  One minute it is glorious sunshine and the next minute the Aga is on full blast for some well needed heat!  It is indeed Flaming June so I am not going to be discouraged from elements of blissful summer time living, and that is why I am completely inspired by these amazing outside fireplaces.  

What could be more beautiful than sitting in your gorgeous, but chilly, garden with a roaring fire blazing.

  

I'm telling you fires are not just for winter, they are a well needed component of your garden design, especially with the unpredictable British climate.  

Just imagine, a cocktail in hand, tapas on the table, a cashmere throw on knee, accompanied by friends and family...all gathered around your outdoor fire.  Forget 'Glamping' (aka Glamourous Camping),  this fabulous fire side attraction is so much more my cup of tea!

All images from the Butterfly Lane Pinterest Page

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Idyllic Acrylic: The Perfect Patio Ware

The Jubilee weekend is finally here and hopefully the weather will stay dry and sunny for all our street parties, garden parties and afternoon tea's!  

In preparation for some Al Fresco fun, Butterfly Lane has just taken delivery of the most stunning patio ware ever made...in our humble opinion!  From the world's style capital, Milano, this glorious range looks like your most prized crystal table ware (strictly forbidden outside of course), but is in fact plastic...and fantastic!  Perfect for your outdoor dining!  

As a special Jubilee treat for all the lovely Butterfly Lane readers we are offering 15% off the whole range!  The offer ends at midnight on Tuesday 5 June.  As our online boutique has not launched just yet (thank you all for your patience!), please email us on info@butterflylane.co.uk for information on how to buy and quote JUBILEE.  

Champagne Flute £10, Wine Glass £10, Water Glass £7, Coffee Cup £8 (remember to deduct 15% for our Jubilee offer)

Salad Bowl £35, Little Bowl £12, Salad Servers £11, Cake Stand £35

Also available from the collection:  Cake Slice £11, Jug £30.

Hope you love the collection as much as we do and we hope you have a wonderful Jubilee weekend.  

Love Butterfly Lane...X