The Spotted Sparrow

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}

Home Organisation Shopping Guide

2012-01-25T12:00:00.000Z

Inspire Me

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000Z

{vol25}

Links for Your Weekend

2012-01-20T15:00:00.000Z

Guy Laramee's Insane Book Landscapes from Make
10 Creative Decorating Ideas from decor8
Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Cereal and Milk Donuts from Simply Gluten-Free

5 Apps to Get Organised

2012-01-18T10:00:00.000Z

Use your new iPhone or iPad to get organised in the new year. Here are five apps to help you get your sh*t together.

Evernote
Evernote helps you keep track of EVERYTHING. Make text, photo and audio notes so you never stuck trying to remember where you saw those fab shoes or what you were supposed to pick up for dinner.

Lockbox
Store and protect sensitive data like passwords, bank account numbers, even credit card numbers. Never forget your passwords again!

Clean Freak
Break down chores into bite-sized tasks. Your own personal rota to make sure the house doesn't eat you alive.

Dropbox
Store documents and files online so you can access them from your phone, iPad or computer. No need to carry around flash drives or email documents back and forth.

Pepperplate
Create meal plans, import recipes and automatically create shopping lists. The app works in conjunction with the Pepperplate website where you can register for a free account.

Inspire Me

2012-01-16T09:00:00.000Z

{Help Ink}

Links for Your Weekend

2012-01-13T15:00:00.000Z

5 Packaged Foods You Never Need to Buy Again from grist
Netflix Launches in Britain - I subscribed when living in the States. It'll be interesting to see how it compares to Love Film.
Make Everything OK from @ReallyLinda
Europe's Tallest Living Wall from inhabitat
Easy DIY Magazine Display from Creature Comforts

Post-Christmas Recycling Tips

2012-01-11T12:00:00.000Z

Christmas is over. Your house is a shambles full of dog-eared Christmas cards, pine needles and torn wrapping paper. You want a fresh start to the new year but what do you do with all that stuff? Recycle it!

Christmas Card Recycling
Recycling Christmas cards has never been easier. Most councils accept Christmas cards with your normal kerbside collection. Alternatively, you can recycle Christmas cards at M&S or Sainsbury's, both of which are offering in-store Christmas card recycling services. You can also try these 10 uses for old greeting cards.

{timojazz}

Recycling Wrapping Paper

Wrapping paper is not recycled by all paper mills because of the dyes, lamination and metallic elements that are often used to make it. Ask your council if they accept wrapping paper for recycling and how it can be collected. If wrapping paper recycling is not available in your area consider using reusable wrapping paper and gift bags next year.

Christmas Tree Recycling
Recycle your Christmas tree. Don't leave your sad, brown tree on the kerb to wallow in shame. Your council will have drop-off points and may even offer Christmas tree collections. Alternatively, you can put tree trimmings in your compost bin or use them to insulate outdoor plants.

Recycling Christmas Lights
That's right, you can even recycle Christmas lights. Take them to your local recycling centre or look for a special collection bin for small electrical items at supermarket recycling drop-off points.

What else can you recycle instead of binning it? Click here to find what you can recycle and where.

Inspire Me

2012-01-09T09:00:00.000Z

{Lucius Art}

Links for Your Weekend

2012-01-06T14:00:00.000Z

How did the first week of 2012 treat you? How are you going to make next week even better?

New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-04T13:13:00.000Z

{HappyTownUSA}

Hello, 2012. Another new year and another fresh start. My only resolution this year is to make 2012 completely awesome! No lists, no unattainable goals, no pressure. Just pure positivity and awesomeness.

Did you make any New Year's Resolutions? Leave a comment and share.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-21T10:17:00.000Z

via {the meadowbrook blog}
Merry Christmas, boys and girls! Wow, I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted. I thought I was prepared for the Christmas rush, but it turns out I was sadly mistaken. This has been the busiest Christmas yet for the Spotted Sparrow and it's all because of you. Thank you!

Wishing you and your families the happiest of Christmases full of good cheer. See you in the new year!

Thanksgiving Holiday

2011-11-21T07:36:00.001Z

Monday Inspiration

2011-11-14T09:00:00.000Z

{via pintrest}

Spotted Sparrow in the Press

2011-11-11T12:35:00.001Z

Big thanks go to Easy Living magazine for including my Love Voucher Booklet in their Christmas Gift Guide, and to Mollie Makes magazine for including my Library Cards & Pockets Advent Calendar in their Advent Calendar Spread.

A few months ago I told you that getting published in a print magazine was a lofty goal I was working towards. I'm absolutely over the moon and eternally grateful to have achieved this. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Is Your Home Ready for Winter?

2011-11-09T08:53:00.000Z

Winter is coming. Is your home ready for the cold months ahead?

{via roddh}

These tips on winterizing your home will help you save money and energy without having to freeze. This natural mould remover will help keep those nasty black spots from around your windows where condensation collects.

Monday Inspiration

2011-11-07T09:00:00.000Z

{via pintrest}

Living North Christmas Fair

2011-11-04T19:29:00.002Z

Living North's Christmas Fair at Newcastle Racecourse is well under way. If you're visiting the fair do stop by the Spotted Sparrow table in Room 20 on the 2nd floor above the Food Hall. Hope to see you there!

November Seasonal Food Calendar

2011-11-01T12:20:00.001Z

Your November seasonal produce calendar is here. Each month I make you a free, printable calendar 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 get your free, printable seasonal produce calendar. You'll get a new seasonal foods calendar in your inbox at the start of each month.

Monday Inspiration

2011-10-31T09:00:00.000Z

Happy Halloween, boys and girls! Enjoy this clip from one of my favourite films of all time.

London Bound

2011-10-27T13:52:00.000+01:00

I'm off for a lightning quick visit to London. See you next week when I'll reveal the winners of the Living North Christmas Fair tickets.

{via Philipp Klinger Photography}