Over & Out

You might have noticed that we have not blogged for quite a while, and that's because we have been reviewing things. Reviewing our branding, our website, our social presence, and more to the point our time.

After many years of enjoying blogging, we have come to the conclusion that it's time to close this door. Although an enjoyable thing to do, we just cannot dedicate the time to it any longer, alongside our work load. And as Jay put it when I couldn't quite find the words, it has begun to feel like it 'It's all up in our space' - for want of a better and um, less gangster term.

A huge thank you to all that have followed our posts over the years. We will be leaving the blog right where it is for you to dip back into at any point, but all future updates will be done via our Facebook page - so come and connect with us: https://www.facebook.com/leaffdesign. See you there!

Hidden Valley Camping // Inspiring the Small

Last month we ventured into the wilds of Worcestershire to take our small on his first camping trip. We stayed local (just incase), though we were sure he would love it... and we weren't wrong!

Hidden Valley (very aptly named) is an absolute gem of a site, based in Tenbury Wells, within the rolling meadows of a family farm. The owners launched the wild camp site only a couple of months before our visit, having very carefully and subtly created pitch sites for visiting tents and their own 2 beautiful bell tents. With compost toilets and solar powered lighting to boot, this site is as sympathetic as you can get to the land it lays within.

With a bounty of wildlife and natural exploration to be had, we wasted no time in animal finding and watching, once our tent was set up! Frogs, Red Kite, Muntjac and Pheasants were all spotted - and heard! - on our stay.

Our small delighted in role-play, creating his own version of what he saw with twigs, a mallet, grass and leaves - while he 'mowed' his fields with his tractor, we made hay bales with the grass for him to carry away again. Role-playing has always been so important for him to process his new experiences.

Our days were spent with early starts at sunrise, copious amounts of fresh air, walking and climbing, the joy of dining al fresco at every meal, and subsequent early sleeps.

This place was magic, and thoroughly good for the soul. One month on our small is still talking about and role-playing our time at Hidden Valley - there is no doubt that the rest of the summer will see more wild camping trips for us. There really is nothing like being that close to nature.

Have you ever considered taking your small for a wild camping adventure? Do you know of any other camp sites as eco and secluded as this one? We would love to hear from you.

Glass Light Bottles // Creative Living

We have been getting our craft-on these last couple of weeks, working hard on some hand-made elements for our small's new bedroom. One project that I was focusing on while Jay sawed away in the garage, were these glass light bottles.

We have a thing for interestingly shaped bottles and having held on to these for some years, they were the perfect thing for this DIY.

Having already picked the colour pops for his room, we utilised the colourway to create some bespoke 'lamps' for his new bedside unit, that Jay has been busy making. The idea is that they sit upside down - the necks of the bottles submerged a little way into the wooden top, siliconed in place - and lit with tiny LED lights.

I wanted the bottles to not only echo the general theme of the room, but to have purpose and meaning - like lights of hope. Since we are hugely passionate vegan naturalists, I chose Climate Change (snow fall), Biodiversity (bear face) and Deforestation (tree). Some bits were painted free-hand and others I made stencils for.

All that is left to do now is to stuff them with tiny LED's and fit them onto the unit - since we are midway through doing this, you will have to hold on a little longer to see the end result and full effect, but we hope that this provides you all with a bit of inspiration for your creative living.

Vegan Power Porridge // Good Food

Breakfast has become far more of an event since we became vegan - as have all our meals - as the doors have been flung wide to the endless possibilities of food combinations. Gone are the days of the mundane plain porridge, with perhaps a little brown sugar - these days we are flying high and feeling so much more satisfied with porridge recipes like this one, that pack a punch in nutritional value...

Ingredients (serves 3)

Porridge
130g porridge oats
1l oat milk
2 bananas
1 tbspn peanut butter (smooth & unsalted)

Compote
80g blueberries
Juice of 1 lemon


Method

Heat the milk, then add the oats and simmer. Peel and mash the bananas and add to the pan, mixing well. Simmer for 5 - 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

While the porridge cooks, make the compote by placing the berries in a pan with the lemon juice and a dash of water. Cook over a high heat, encouraging the berries to burst by pushing down with a wooden spoon. Stir rapidly, until it becomes a smooth compote with a few whole berries remaining for texture.

Once the porridge is cooked, stir in the peanut butter and mix well. Serve and top with compote.

Wyre Forest Stick Man Trail // Inspiring the Small

As huge fans of Stick Man, we couldn't wait to visit the exciting trail and meet the beloved sculpture of the man himself, over at Wyre Forest. So on a sunny day a couple of weeks ago, we set off in our wellies...

The forest was enchanting and the air sweet with the promise of summer. We walked, ran, peeped, stomped, investigated, built, climbed, and very briefly sat down. There was so much to explore; so much to find. The Gruffalo was a nice surprise to spy through the trees, fast asleep in a clearing, and we were greeted with Stick Man himself on completion of the trail.

After the book being a firm favourite in our house for such a long time, this was a day out that our small could really connect with. It inspired him, and on the journey home we had to read our book again - at least 3 times. A brilliant day out full of fresh air, exercise, role play and connection with nature.

Plan your day out at Wyre Forest here: Forestry Commission

Letting Go // Creative Living

When we grow up, we grow out of play, and into tight spaces in our minds. There is no room for play, and no room for imagination. But when we really get into the moments with our children - and I mean really - then we find our inner child, which opens up a whole world of possibility. We learn and grow creatively through play, and develop our skills in problem solving and social skills - just like our children do. Our adult lives are put on pause and for those blissful moments or days, we are free.

So I challenge you to truly live creatively this week. Lay in the leaves - try and catch one falling! Stomp in the mud and get dirty - who cares about the washing, it will be worth it. Wade in the river like you did when you were a child. Run down a hilly meadow - and laugh hard. Try a new skill, and feel liberated. And reconnect with nature, with new eyes...

This is something we are trying to embrace more of all the time, and reaping the benefits mentally, emotionally and physically as well as creatively. It's good for the soul.

Photo sources (all our own): Laying in leaves at Sherwood Forest, Stomping in mud at Wyre Forest, Wading in the river at The Knapp & Papermill Nature Reserve, Hill running at Croome Court, Archery class with Really Rural, Robin feeding at Puzzlewood.

Perfect Vegan Pancakes // Good Food

We enjoy this breakfast at least once a week - it's vegan, super healthy, fun and delicious. The perfect family-orientated breakfast to set you up for a great day of adventure...

Ingredients (serves 3)

150g rolled oats
2 Medjool dates
500ml (approx) oat milk
2 bananas
80g plain wholemeal flour
Coconut oil (for cooking in)
Berries (of your choice)
Maple syrup (for drizzling)

Method

Pit and crush the dates until a paste-like consistency (or use a blender!). Peel the bananas and crush into the dates to combine at the same time. Combine date / banana mix with with the oats, flour and milk and mix well to form a gloopy, pourable batter. Stand for 10 minutes before cooking - meanwhile heat frying pan over a medium-low heat and add coconut oil when you're ready to start cooking.

Spoon the mixture into the frying pan - we usually fit around 4 pancakes in the pan each time. When the mixture appears to set on top, that's when you flip them - around 4-5 minutes on the first side, and around another 2-3 minutes once flipped.

Serve hot, with your choice of berries and a drizzle of maple syrup - here we used strawberries, raspberries and pineapple. Sometimes we make a compote instead, using blueberries and lemon, or even rhubarb. Get creative!

Natural Playground, Croome // Inspiring the Small

Come rain or shine (but preferably shine) our small is never happier, or more free-spirited than when he is outdoors, immersed in nature. At our local National Trust property - Croome Court - as well as the obligatory man-made playground, they also have a natural playground. Having spent near enough every day of his walking life playing outside within nature, C naturally gravitates to the natural playground, to explore his imagination.

Exploring logs, branches, tree stumps and twigs, there is endless opportunity for testing his boundaries in balancing, jumping, climbing, lifting, carrying and building, as well as role play - the tepee for example, became our house, which he decorated with ivy and built a 'fire' outside of.

We are true believers in the importance of nurturing our relationship with nature, which inspires our small, and forms the basis of a life-long bond with natural spaces.

Wreath Making With Fresh Florals // Creative Living

Last month we covered our collaboration with Stephanie Saunders to create an Easter wreath, which was re-usable for different seasons and occasions - you can catch up on that here. This month, we are covering our collaboration creating this fresh wreath of summer florals...


Step One // Preparing the Oasis wreath

• Soak an Oasis ring in water for a few minutes. Leave it to soak up the water without forcing
  it under the water level. It will find its own way down after a minute or two.

• Chamfer the edge of the Oasis ring to increase the surface area before beginning to add foliage
  - this allows you to use more flowers and foliage.


Step Two // Adding the foliage

• Start with your foliage to create the size and shape of your arrangement. Cut suitable lengths
  of foliage for the base of your arrangement. Insert these around the edge and at various points
  around the Oasis ring. We chose this Italian large leaf Eucalyptus.

• Starting with your largest flower choices first (these form the focal point to the arrangement),
  insert these at equal, but natural looking distances around the ring. This is very much where
  you can put your own style into it. Groupings of two look lovely but disperse these with
  singular blooms. We used these large white roses as our main focal floral, with pink spray roses.


Step 3 // Adorning with florals

 • Keep turning the arrangement to view it at all angles to make sure it looks good from each side.

• Take your next flower choice and arrange around the first flowers and repeat for all of your
  chosen florals. We used a mix of Lily of the Valley, Grape Hyacinths and daffodils alongside
  the roses. Again, look for natural spaces to infill with blooms. Continue this process until you
  have used all your flower varieties. 


Step 4 // Displaying and maintaining

• If there are any spaces where you can see the wet Oasis, infill these with little sprigs of foliage.

• To make the arrangement last as long as possible, top the Oasis up with a little water from time
  to time. This will perk up the flowers and make them last a little longer. Fresh wreaths can be
  expected to last for up to a week.

This was such an exciting wreath to create, and the scent was just beautiful. The perfect summer entrance piece to hang on your front door, to welcome guests and to bring a smile to passers by.