The Spotted Sparrow

Printable May Seasonal Food Calendar

2012-05-09T15:50:00.000+01:00

(click image to download)

5 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Easter

2012-04-04T12:44:00.000+01:00

Make your own Easter eggs with natural dyes.
Make your own paper Easter grass. Have the kids paint old newspaper, then cut it into strips or shred it. The newspaper can be recycled after Easter.
Buy foil-wrapped chocolate Easter eggs and sweets instead of those packaged in cardboard and plastic. The foil can be recycled after you eat them.
Give longer lasting gifts like seed packets, books or wooden toys.
Re-use containers and Easter baskets instead of purchasing new every year.

Green Spring Cleaning Tips

2012-03-28T13:26:00.000+01:00

The sun is shining, the windows are open and you are in full Spring Cleaning mode. Clean, de-clutter, sort, organise, make a fresh start! Here are some green Spring Cleaning tips and recipes to help as you go through your home like a cleaning tornado.

Enjoy the sun and your sparkling clean home!

Inspire Me

2012-03-26T10:00:00.000+01:00

{source: Alison Hardcastle}

Royal Britannia Sneak Peek

2012-03-21T11:24:00.000Z

Coming soon!. Join our mailing list to receive information about the launch and exclusive discounts.

Inspire Me

2012-03-19T10:28:00.000Z

{source: I Love Design}

Links for Your Weekend

2012-03-16T15:00:00.000Z

How to Save Water During Hosepipe Ban

2012-03-14T11:00:00.000Z

With nearly a third of British homes facing a hosepipe ban due to drought, many of us are wondering how to conserve water. These water saving tips will help you reduce your daily water consumption.

{source: chemodan}

Wash only full loads of laundry.
Fix leaking taps (usually a 5 minute job of replacing a washer).
Install a water saving shower head (costs about £20).
Turn off the tap whilst brushing your teeth, shaving and washing/rinsing dishes.
Wash fruits and vegetables in a small container rather than under running water. Collect the water for a few days and use it to water your plants.
Reduce the number of baths you take per week.
When giving your pet fresh water, use the old to water plants.
Reduce showers to 5 minutes or less.
Place a rain barrel or bucket in the garden. The collected water can be used to water plants.

Making just one small change can help reduce the effects of the drought, lessening the need for hosepipe bans and ensuring farmers have the water they need for crops.

What will you do to help conserve water?

Inspire Me

2012-03-12T10:00:00.000Z

{source: Of Life and Lemons}

Links for Your Weekend

2012-03-09T16:00:00.000Z

10 Cool Ikea Kitchen Hacks

Eco-Friendly Mother's Day Shopping Guide

2012-03-07T12:00:00.000Z

Mother's Day is just a week away. Are you doing something special for your mum? This Mother's Day shopping guide should give you some ideas. All items are made from eco-friendly, fair trade or organic materials.

top row: Jumbo Winter Veg Patch Seed Kit, Joy Tea Towel
middle row: Buttercup Earrings, Personalised 'This Much' Baby Vest
bottom row: 'Queen Of' Print, Personalised Wall Art

Inspire Me

2012-03-05T10:00:00.000Z

{source: Petek Design}

Leap Year Traditions

2012-02-29T11:50:00.000Z

Leap year. It only happens once every four years and yet the only leap year tradition is women proposing marriage to their lads on 29th February. There are several supposed origins of this tradition, ranging from Saint Patrick to Queen Margaret of Scotland, but it seems mostly steeped in legend and romance. Now, I'm a girl that loves some legend and romance, but how many people do you know that have done this? Let's see . . . none.

{source: depinniped}

For a date of such significance I'd like to see new traditions that most of the general public can participate in. While we're at it, let's make these new leap year traditions help our planet too. Let's start a tradition of setting a new, eco-friendly practice every leap year.

Will this be the day you start line-drying your laundry?
Will this be the day you start taking public transportation to work?
Will this be the year you start participating in Meatless Mondays?
Will this be the year you finally plant that herb or vegetable garden?

Today, I put out a rain barrel for the first time. Nothing fancy, just a small container to collect water that I can use to water my little garden. Goodbye, garden hose. Hello, Mother Nature.

Inspire Me

2012-02-27T09:49:00.002Z

{source: Hello Monkey}

Links for Your Weekend

2012-02-24T16:00:00.000Z

Pancake Day

2012-02-21T10:00:00.000Z

While you lot in the States are celebrating Mardi Gras, us folks in Britain are celebrating Pancake Day. Mmmm, pancakes!

{source: pancakes by hannah * honey & jam}

Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is the last day before Lent. Traditionally, people would make a last feast to use up fat, sugar and eggs, all of which were forbidden during Lent. British pancakes are more like crepes than their thick, fluffy American counterparts. They are rolled up and sprinkled with sugar and lemon juice.

It's no surprise that this Yank is partial to American pancakes, but that won't stop me from enjoying a bit of both today. Here are two of my favourite gluten-free pancake recipes.

Gluten-Free Pancakes Recipe (British style)
Karina's Gluten-Free Pancakes Recipe (American style)

Inspire Me

2012-02-20T09:00:00.000Z

{handz}

Links for Your Weekend

2012-02-17T16:00:00.000Z

Spring Cleaning: Donate

2012-02-15T12:00:00.000Z

It may not be Spring but I'm ready for Spring Cleaning and feeling the urge to purge. Want less clutter? Go through your wardrobe, linens and a pile of books and pick at least one thing to donate.

{peterphotographic}

Chances are you've gotten a donation bag in the post recently so you can just leave the donation on your doorstep. Otherwise just pop over to your local charity shop or drop-off point. You get less clutter and you've helped someone. Win!

Inspire Me

2012-02-13T09:00:00.000Z

{FreshWordsMarket}

Valentine's Day Shopping Guide

2012-02-08T12:00:00.000Z

Get last minute Valentine's Day ideas with this Valentine's Day Shopping Guide.

top row: set of three tea light holders, personalised coordinate print
middle row: love voucher book, anatomical heart card
bottom row: pillow talk pillowcases, solid oak 'hot stuff' trivet

Inspire Me

2012-02-06T09:00:00.000Z

{magalerie}

Links for Your Weekend

2012-02-03T15:00:00.000Z

February Seasonal Food Calendar

2012-02-01T12:00:00.001Z

I make you a seasonal food calendar each month to help you keep track of what's in season. Buying seasonal produce helps you save money on groceries, and helps the environment by reducing shipping-related pollution and fuel consumption.

Sign up for the Spotted Sparrow newsletter to receive your free, printable seasonal food calendar. You'll get a new calendar in your inbox at the start of each month.

Inspire Me

2012-01-30T09:00:00.000Z

{PrettyPetalStudio}