Celebrate International Women's Day with Gudrun Sjoden

Head down to their London store for an afternoon of festivities and celebration for International Women's Day

Gudrun Sjoden are celebrating IWD in style at their London store today with colourful offers, exciting surprises and, of course, something tasty to eat and drink. There will  be a special appearance from Alys Fowler, who will be at the store from 4pm sharing her tips on planting for spring.  Plus a free goody bags for those who attend with free copies of The Simple Things inside. An event not to be missed so stop by and say hey!

Whip up a tasty tiramisu in time for the weekend

Sukaina from Sips and Spoonfuls has stopped by to share this delicious recipe for a simple tiramisu. Whip this up in less than an hour to share and enjoy with friends and family.

Ingredients: 2 cups whipping cream 3 egg yolks * 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup mascarpone cheese 2 cups strong coffee approx. 25 ladyfingers cocoa powder to serve

Directions: Beat the whipping cream until stiff peaks form and set aside. Using the paddle attachment of the stand mixer, beat the the egg yolks and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Add the vanilla and mascarpone and beat on medium speed till combined. Fold the mascarpone with the whipped cream, taking care not to deflate the mixture.

Dip the ladyfingers quickly into the coffee. Layer glasses with the mascarpone followed by the ladyfingers alternatively starting and ending with the mascarpone. Refrigerate for four hours at least or overnight. Serve with a dusting of cocoa powder.

Makes approximately 8 glasses depending on the size.

A big thank you for Sukaina for taking the time to share this recipe with us, for more visit her at Sips and Spoonfuls

* Make sure you pick the best eggs for this recipe using our notes on eggs guide inside Issue 7

Can you guess the egg?

Using our notes on eggs guide in Issue 7 can you correctly guess these unidentified eggs? Leave your answers in the comments below!

1. Clue: these eggs are quite rare and most commonly found in the spring.

2. Clue: Not for baking, these are best boiled.

3. Clue: Commonly known as the 'American ostrich'

4. Clue: These eggs are known for their tough outer shell.

To read eggs-pert Richard Kempsey's guide to the humble egg download Issue 7 now or order a copy online.

Issue 7 (March 2013) is currently available in UK shops, subscribe here.

** For more eggs-ceedingly eggs check out Clarence Court's website or say hi on Twitter: @ClarenceCourt

Ceilings & Floors | Dublin from top to bottom with Emily Westbrooks

Those who've read Issue 7 will be familiar with Emily Westbrooks, writer, blogger and resident of the wondrous city of Dublin. Today Emily has stopped by on the blog to take us on an extra special tour of her beloved city not seen inside the magazine. Take it away Emily...

I've never been the biggest fan of museums and history exhibitions, but living in Dublin has certainly changed that. The museums here are free (just not open on Mondays), which means you can pop in for a quick visit without feeling like you have to see every inch. But as an added bonus, they offer some of the best examples of Georgian architecture in the city. I've been known to spend more time gazing at the ornate ceilings and snapping photos of my feet on the patterned mosaic tile floors than at the actual exhibits! Now, in each city I visit, I make sure to look up and down to see what the other views have to offer.

Here are some of the best ceilings and floors you'll find in Dublin:

The National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street The National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street focuses on Irish history through archeology. It's the home to several "bogmen", people who were found after being preserved in peat bogs. They still have some of their clothing and hair intact! But the big domed ceiling and patterned floor, with mosaics depicting Greek mythology, in the entryway might stop you in your tracks.

Dublin City Hall (This one has a small fee for entry) Dublin City Hall holds an exhibition that shares the history of the capital city from 1170 to today, and the classic Georgian ceiling and mosaic tiled floor filled with flowers, shamrocks and images of Dublin Castle are well worth a visit.

The National Library Technically, you need a reader's card for entry into the National Library, but there are tours available for the public every Saturday at 2:30pm. Inside the main reading room, the domed ceiling is painted in shades of turquoise, which is especially striking against the dark wood bookcases and desks. The grand setting will certainly make you want to crack open a book!

EMILY WESTBROOKS writes about life, travel and DIY projects on her blog, From China Village.

 

Things to wake up and WIN (closed)

We're giving away 8 fantastic prizes from this month's wake up and want wishlist inside Issue 7. Read more about the prizes below or enter here now!

Leaf impression plate | £13 | Yaela Studio

Impressed by hand with a grape leaf before another speckled texture was added, this plate is beautiful to look at.

Cake tins | £25 | Cotswold Trading

How could you say no to a piece of cake delivered by one of these three charming characters? Design by artist Tom Frost.

Pipe lamp | £69 | Bodie and Fou

House Doctor DK's pipe lamp mixes luxe with industrial to create an eye-catching statement piece.

Ceramic mug | £23 | Dawn Dishaw Ceramics

The pattern on this mug is hand-drawn and inspired by the rich patterns of Persian paintings

Harvest mugs | £16 each | Darling Clementine

Make the first drink of the day even more appealing supped from these bone china mugs

Dancers tea tray | £24 | Depeapa

Veronica de Arriba's illustration reminds us to banish the morning blues and get up and dance.

Pure Nature stool | £105 | Idyll Home

Bring a touch of rustic charm to the breakfast table with this wooden stool.

Kuppila tray and greeting cards | £36 | Polkka Jam

Serve up a reviving brew on this tea-themed tray.

CLICK HERE for a chance to win this amazing collection of prizes!

*Our wake up and want wishlist was complied by WILL TAYLOR

Inside The Simple Things Issue 7: the Collector

On Facebook and Twitter you've all been telling us how much you enjoy the collector feature inside The Simple Things. We do too. In seven Issues we've looked at all sorts of weird and wonderful collections from radios to valentines cards, and each one has been unique with a special story to tell. This month we take a look inside Michael Tyler's Cuban political poster collection, a series of stunning and powerful images in which artistic freedom meets the struggle for freedom.

1: 'Day of the Heroic Guerrilla', Helena Serrano, 1968 2: 'Day of World Solidarity with Laos', Andres Hernandez, 1972 3: 'Radiant Che', Alfredo Rostgaard, 1969

4: 'America Latina: Week of Solidarity with Latin America', Antonio Perez (Niko), 1968, 5: 'Day of Solidarity with the People of Venezuela', Faustino Perez, 1969 6: 'International Campaign of Solidarity with the People of Korea', Gladys Acosta, 1969.

To read more about Michael Tyler's Cuban poster collection download Issue 7 now or order a copy online.

Issue 7 (March 2013) is currently available in UK shops, subscribe here.

 

 

 

Celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight with our giveaway!

To mark the start of Fair Trade Fortnight we've got a set of Baylis & Harding's new Fair trade range to giveaway to one lucky reader.

Over the next two weeks the Fairtrade foundation is urging us to take an extra step to look after the food we love and the people who grow it. There are plenty of ways to get involved and show your support for this fantastic campaign, whether it's buying products which carry the FAIRTRADE mark, getting involved with a local event, or signing the online petition for fairer food.

To celebrate, we've got a set of Baylis & Harding's new Fair Trade range to giveaway to one lucky person. Enter online now, and don't forget to let us know the ways you're supporting Fair Trade in the comments below.

Visit www.fairtrade.org.uk/gofurther for more on Fairtrade Fortnight.

Get a free trial subscription of The Simple Things for iPad & iPhone! (expired)

Our new Apple Newsstand app is now live! To celebrate we’re offering a free trial subscription to all new subscribers!

To celebrate the launch of our new Apple Newsstand app, we’re offering a free trial subscription of The Simple Things, Mollie Makes and Gathered by Mollie Makes on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to all new subscribers!

Click below to sign up for your free trial subscriptions

The Simple Things

Mollie Makes

Gathered by Mollie Makes

Packing for adventure in Issue 7

Fact behind the mag: wooden boats are a daily sight on Derwent Water, part of the Keswick Launch Company, this boat (just scene) was moored on the shore close to the repair workshop for the boats.

‘Pull on your boots and see where your feet take you’

This month’s mag is all about finding adventure in the great British countryside. Inside we show you how to find the best routes, pick out the essential gear, and even cook up the perfect pocket picnic, but before we ramblers set off we have to face the somewhat dreaded task of packing, yikes. Luckily our friends at Millican have stopped by to show us how to prepare for a two day hike. Boots, waterproofs, snacks, maps, and poles all in one bag? No problem.

Dave the Rucksack from Millican on Vimeo.

The adventure continues inside Issue 7...

Things to wake up and want: the Valentines edition

This 14th February treat your Valentine to something extra special whether it be homemade chocolates or a simply stunning scent...

Light bulb vase by London Garden Trading (available on Not on the Highstreet)

Mini heart-shaped bowls by Golemdesigns

Rose 31 by Liberty London

Follow your heart coin www.kutuu.co.uk

Big Love Valentine timbergram Anthropologie

Hazelnut macarons and chocolate truffles: both recipes are found in The Simple Things issue 3 available here.

 

A love letter to London

My dearest London,

You look so handsome today. The sun is making you all shiny; warming you up after you shivered for a while under the snow. I like seeing you like this. It reminds me of all the reasons we’ve stayed together over the years. The golden cityscape you treat me to every morning from the top of the hill; your ability to pleasantly surprise me, like when I first heard classical music being played at Clapham North tube station or learned you were home to a family of flamingos; and the way you rally everyone together when times are hard.

I might not always show it, but I want to make things work between us. There’s a lot going on underneath your often tough exterior that I love. There’s your markets; your mews; your green spaces and Victorian trees. There’s your guerrilla gardens, like the Edible Bus Stop in Stockwell, and your inconspicuous jazz bars, like the Hideaway in Streatham.

Then there are your many characters. The lovely Sara who taught me how to keep hens in the city; Steve the London Honey Man, who makes your urban bees very happy indeed, and the elderly gent I see regularly on Portobello Road carrying a Jack Russell on his shoulder like a parrot.

The past eight years have not been easy; we’ve gone through our fair share of testing times. I blamed you when things were going badly – the redundancy, and those early days when your rents left me broke, when I questioned why I was still with you and felt I could find a better life back up north. But you didn’t abandon me. You taught me the tenacity I still see in you everyday - in your unwavering desire to grow skywards, and in your leafless apple tree at my local station that refuses to let go of its fruit.

Living in each other’s pockets was always going to be volatile. You really do have a tendency to overcrowd me at times. When distance is called for it’s always me putting those 200 miles between us, as I escape to a quieter place. Those early days were especially feisty, remember? I’d go from feeling excitement and awe to having my bags packed ready to leave in a matter of days.

Then often against my will I begin to miss you. I think about your beauty at night, and about finding your organic coffee shop in Notting Hill that’s been serving me flat whites well before the world put a name to them. And I think about all the other little things I haven’t even discovered about you yet.

It’s fair to say it wasn’t love at first sight, but we’ve grown together and mellowed over the years. It’s on days like today when the sun is shining and you’re beckoning me in that I feel we’ve got something special – let’s hold onto that.

 

Yours, Rachel