Rustic wedding

Rustic wedding by homemadecherries featuring shoes

Chocolate cake for Valentine's Day

With Valentine’s Day just round the corner, why don’t try this fabulous and very tasty chocolate molten cake or a one-bowl brownie recipe. It is really yummy and is bound to make your loved one week in the knees. Here are two recipes so you can make them at home.

Chocolate Cake with Molten Center

You will need:
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 (1 ounce) squares bittersweet chocolate
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons flour

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 230 degrees C. Butter and flour four 4 ounce ramekins or custard cups.

2. Set the bowl over simmering water, heat the butter and the chocolate until chocolate is almost completely melted.

3. Beat the eggs, egg yolks and sugar together until light colored and thick.

4. Beat together the melted chocolate and butter. While beating, slowly pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, then quickly beat in the flour and mix until just combined.

5. Divide the batter between the four molds and bake at 230 degrees C for 6 to 7 minutes. The centers of the cakes will still be quite soft. Invert cakes on serving plates and let sit for about 15 seconds, then unmold. Serve immediately with fresh whipped cream, yummy.

One Bowl Brownies

You will need:
• 4 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
• 3/4 cup butter
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C

2. Microwave chocolate and butter in large bowl at high setting for 2 minutes or until butter is melted.

3. Stir until chocolate is melted. Stir in sugar. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and nuts.

4. Spread in greased 13 x 9 inch tin. Bake for 35 minutes (do not overbake).

Recipes courtesy of Amy Atlas.

Want to glam-up your bathroom?

Try this ultra-chic toilet rolls from Renova. Dress your bathroom in style for a party and to surprise your guests with this luxury toilet paper. It's fashionable, sophisticated, fun and unique!

Fun, fun, fun!

Personalised deckchairs

Planning a beach holiday? If you are fed up with beach towels and looking for something unique, this set of recycled sailcloth deck chairs might be just what you are looking for. They ooze quality when you snooze and with four laid back positions they will satisfy even the most chilled user. And can be equally used at home in the garden or on the beach.

Made from heavy duty recycled sailcloth sling sourced from an ocean going yacht, personalised with your choice of name or significant number. The sturdy wooden frame is made in the UK from durable Beech grown in managed European forests. A classic reefing line detail is positioned to allow the frame to be secured closed when carried or stored and simple coloured dots on the frame identify which bit goes where when you open it up.

And don't forget about the little ones too!

They are great for a toddler or their teddy bears to sit alongside their dad, in the garden or on the beach.

All slings are personalised in a choice of colours with the child's initial letter and name printed below in a child friendly font.The sustainable beech frame features a safety lock, the sling features our signature reefing line detail to hold the frame closed when not in use and is supplied with red, blue and black cords for further customisation.

A unique present which is bound to become a cherished possession in later life.

Width: 39cm, length: 66 cm laid flat

All available from notonthehighstreet.com

Wedding inspiration board

Loving this summery color scheme for a wedding; with little birds featured throughout.

Personalised gift ideas

With Easter approaching fast, why not surprise your loved ones with these gorgeous personalised gifts from notonthehighstreet.com. It is a fabulous place for hundreds of wonderfully creative, imaginative, high quality small businesses, selling thousands of gorgeous, unique, carefully made things. Things for your home, for your friends and for you. I picked only a few adorable items. Hope you like it!

Personalised egg cosy

These fab egg cosies make a fun and unusual gift for any occasion. Handmade and embroidered on both sides. An initial of your choice is appliqued on the front. The back is appliqued with either a heart of a star, where further words can be embroidered. Choose from pink, blue or cream with either red or blue trim. Fully lined to keep eggs extra cosy.

Monogrammed heart keyrings

These cute monogrammed heart keyrings are all handmade to order with a single embroidered initial on natural linen, backed with vintage ticking fabric. They are all filled with dried lavender and trimmed with a ribbon and key ring. Available in red or navy blue.

Personalised natural handmade candle with pure essential oils

Add you own message to this 100% natural hand made candles. Made from GMO free soy wax grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides and fragranced with pure essential oils. They burn for approximately 40 hours. Perfect for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, engagements, christenings, confirmations and any special occasion. Beautifully gift wrapped in stylish specially made candle box decorated with a ribbon and sprinkled with rose buds. Choose from two gorgeous pure essential oil blends: Energising -pink grapefruit, geranium and lemongrass and Relaxing -organic lavender and organic rose geranium.

Personalised wine bottle stoppers

They make an original present for any wine connoisseur, or the wine drinker who never quite finishes the bottle! They fit all wine bottles and will create an air tight stop.

6 tips to keep your house tidy every day

To continue with the spring-cleaning spirit, here are some useful tips how to keep your house in order throughout the day.

Always make the bed: crisply made bed makes the whole room seem more tidy, which makes it less likely that you'll let other things (ie. clothes and papers!) pile up around it.

De-clutter: before you leave a room, take a quick look around for anything that isn't where it should be. Pick it up and put it where it belongs. Make it a habit for everyone in the household to do the same.

Sort the mail: take 5 minutes each day to open, read, and sort mail as soon as it lands on your doormat! Bin the junk mail. Arrange other mail into one of three in-boxes: personal correspondence, bills, and filing.

Clean as you cook: instead of filling the sink with saucepans, plates and cups, wash them or put them in the dishwasher as you prepare a meal.

Wipe up spills as soon as they happen: whether it's tomato sauce on the kitchen floor or makeup on your dressing table, almost anything is faster and easier to remove if you do it straight away.

Sweep the kitchen floor: every evening once you've finished washing up after dinner, sweep or hoover the floor. This will keep tough-to-clean dirt and grime from building up, which will make the weekly cleaning much faster!

Tips how to organize a coat wardrobe

Spring has arrived! Now it is great time to take your storage to new levels. If you install shelves near the base of your closet, you'll no longer have to rifle through items strewn across the floor!

If it is a shared wardrobe, each family member can have his or her own basket for hats and scarves. You can line the lower shelf with shoes. For dog toys, tennis balls, etc you can tuck boxes underneath.If you leave a foot of space between shelves and the door frame, you'll have room for boots and a metal basket for umbrellas. Long hooks fixed on the inside of the doors will keep handbags neat. When you hang an acrylic organizer on the door it will ensure essentials, such as a wallet and sunglasses, are easily accessible. A mirror allows for a final once-over check on the way out.

Simple. Try it with your wardrobe and you will see how much easier it gets.

Win Hassle 3 Wedding Planning worth £2,500!

We are very excited to be running a wedding planning competition in Your Kent Wedding and Your Sussex Wedding magazine. The competition closes on 23 April 2010.

If you have friends getting married and living in Kent or Sussex, please encourage them to enter the competition here.

Easy Expiration Date and Warranty reminder

When you buy new appliances, you probably never think of the warranty expiration dates. You happily throw the boxes away and then when something goes wrong, there is a problem. No box, no return. Here is a simple tip how to avoid this hassle.

If you put warranty expiration dates on appliance boxes, you will know when it's safe to throw them away.

Place the receipt and warranty slips in a cellophane bag. Use a marker to write the expiration date on a self-adhesive label, and stick it to the bag. Attach the bag to the box with double-sided tape. Done.

Say it with Biscuit

I was recently looking for a unique Valentine's gift and came across this super cute collection from Biscuiteers.

Sometimes you need more than three little words to say 'I love you'. With beautifully iced I LOVE YOU letters and some sweet lovehearts, this could be the start of something big. Home made and iced on 100% super chocolatey biscuits they surely will be a hit with your loved one.

Biscuiteers create these beauties for virtually any occasion; new baby, birthdays and parties, get well soon, weddings, new home and more. Make sure to order your on time.

Valentine's Day is coming! Tips on how to make it special.

WHAT ARE WE MOST BUSY WITH IN THE RUN UP TO VALENTINE'S DAY?

Classically flowers and chocolates. We can recommend florists both in the UK and internationally, and help make sure what you order is perfect for the one you love. For that sweet-toothed special someone, I can recommend some superb artisan chocolatiers who have come up with new ideas for Valentine's Day: such as a collection of jewel-shaped chocolates, with hand-painted hearts. Award-winning chocolatier Marc Demarquette personally hand-seals these bespoke chocolates by customer request, which can range from embedding an engagement ring to simply including a handwritten love note.

WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE DAY ITSELF?

Going out for dinner is a traditional choice, and we've got a great restaurant team who recommend and book restaurants anywhere in the country, particularly if you are looking for something special or a little unusual. But restaurants on Valentine's Day are full of other couples, so for something more intimate I'd suggest staying at home and making the most of the luxury hampers. You can the relax and let your love blossom.

A LOT OF PEOPLE USE VALENTINE'S DAY AS AN IDEAL CHANCE TO PROPOSE.

I love jewellery. Knowing the budget and a style of my clients I am always able to go back to them with some brilliant options. I keep a little black book of all my favourite suppliers and have great knowledge on unusual jewellery brands - it's a job I love doing. We can also help with ideas for creative ways to propose.

What to SUGGEST FOR THOSE IN LONGER RELATIONSHIPS?

Couples that have been together for some time might view Valentine's as an opportunity to get away for a few days. I would recommend going to a spa for a really romantic weekend away where you can embark on a couple's massage among many other pampering treatments. We can help you find a spa in your area to match your budget. We can also help with hotel stays, or perhaps even a short break abroad, so let us know if you fancy treating yourselves to something special.

how about SOMEONE LOOKING FOR A REALLY SPECIAL GIFT?

Unusual gifts always go down really well and I love discussing ideas with clients for how best to surprise their partner. Recently I came across a company called Fun Hearts, which has people dressed as giant love hearts available to hand out roses, chocolates and messages to that special someone. Another idea might be having flowers planted in your garden to say the words ‘I love you', or for something dramatic we could even look into having doves released from a place that's special for you both. Get in touch with Hassle 3 to discuss how to make your Valentine's Day a unique experience.

SOME COUPLES LIKE TO GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING TOGETHER ON VALENTINE'S DAY.

Valentine's can be a good time to do something you've always wanted to. This might be hiring an Aston Martin for the weekend, going on a hot air balloon ride or treating your partner to a personal shopper experience. These sorts of gifts are really popular and will give you a Valentine's Day experience you won't forget.

Hassle 3 Christmas at home

Hassle 3 Christmas at home

Christmas is a magical time of year, full of peace and goodwill. By contrast, preparing to celebrate the festivities at home can be a stressful experience. But with a little careful planning and delegation this needn't be the case. So how do you get Christmas at home with minimum stress and maximum sparkle?

What goes into organising the perfect Christmas at home?

• Start with the little things – Christmas cards, advent calendars – and go from there.
• Decide on the gifts, purchase them well in advance to avoid unkindly fellow Christmas shoppers and wrap them ready for delivery
• Put your lights up, if you are using ones and decorate the Christmas tree
• Plan your Christmas party– some thought will need to go into this if it's to stand out from the mulled wine and mince pie get-togethers
• If it sounds like a horrendous amount of planning, delegate to Hassle 3. Simply hand over your to do list and we'll do the hard work. We have got great relationships with professional chefs, catering companies, cleaners and interior decorators, all of whom can come to your home to make your dreams a reality without you lifting a finger.

How far in advance do you usually start planning?

• To have everything ready for the big day, start mid-November.
• If you are planning to cook a traditional Christmas lunch you will need to pre-order the turkey or goose mid November, whether this is from one of the supermarkets, your local butcher or directly from a free-range farm.
• The last posting date for UK first-class mail is 21 December, but with the ever-present threat of postal strikes it would be best to get Christmas cards in the post well in advance of this date. That means beginning to write cards or ordering pre-printed cards first week of December to leave enough time for addressing envelopes and getting them to the post office.
• Corporate Christmas gifts are a headache for many a businessman. Hampers and cases of wine or champagne can be the perfect treat for work colleagues, but some of the top suppliers – such as Harrods and Fortnum and Mason - have their delivery dates booked up weeks in advance.

Is there anything that clients need to be reminded about in particular?

• No offence, but men often need reminding of what gifts they are supposed to be buying!
• I have put together a list of gift suggestions for all the various people in your life. So please feel free to ask for an inspiration before you get started.
• If you are buying gifts for elderly people, please refrain from buying another pair of socks or a tie – they probably receive them every Christmas and Birthday! Instead, give them something unique, like Internet lessons or tickets for West End shows.
• If you are planning to treat your little ones to some festive activities, these should be booked in advance. For example, visiting Santa's grotto is a magical treat for children, but at Harrods it was fully booked by mid-September. However at Hassle 3 we can suggest plenty of other places and next year you will receive a reminder from us early in the autumn so you can visit the place of your choice.

How to make Christmas really enjoyable?

• Most people have Christmas Day organised but forget to make plans for the time between then and New Year
• It's a good idea to have some activities up your sleeve to keep everyone entertained. A pantomime or musical is a classic treat, and open-air ice skating is always a hoot. Even if it's a good, brisk walk to work off the turkey and build up an appetite for the next big meal, when you've got guests it's always advisable to plan ahead. At Hassle 3 we can send you recommendations for pantos, open-air ice rinks and scenic walks in your area. We can also send you suggestions for family games.

How can clients best cope with the stress associated with planning Christmas?

• Simply hand it all over to us, Hassle 3. Give yourself enough time – start talking to your lifestyle expert now, and come December you'll be worry-free.
• Having said that, Christmas-related stress can be a great excuse for a bit of pampering. Talk to Hassle 3 and we can book you in for a mind-calming massage or a soothing spa session.

Hassle 3 guide to stylish Christmas gifts for under a tenner

It is the time of the year to be thoughtful yet thrifty, not to remortgage your home on iPhones, X-boxes and that Prada shoes. The fact is, a tenner and a bit of imagination can go a long way with these simple ideas.

Velvet Beauty Bag

A lovely gift for a BFF or A-list auntie, this velvet bag looks and feels decidedly opulent. Perfect for make-up, jewellery or (whisper it....) love letters. Velvet beauty bag, £8, Cox and Cox.

Scented soy candles

These mandarin scented soy candles in recycled glass bottles are a lovely gift for winter. Simple but gorgeous, the beauty of soy is that it's virtally smoke and soot-free. Recycled glass soy candles, £4, ECOutlet.

Fig bar soap

Imagine a countryside walk with the Mediterranean sun on your back - this fig-scented soap will take you there. Triple milled with palm and almond oils, it gives a luxurious lather and offers a long-lasting fragrance. Fig bar soap by Côté Bastide, £8, Bodie and Fou.

Pinhole camera kit

Great for big kids and little kids alike, go back to basics and explore how a tiny pin hole refracts and captures light rays to produce real photos. Genius stuff. Pinhole camera kit by Ridleys, £9, Breeze.

Cocktail shaker

No booze cupboard is complete without a cocktail shaker, and in fire engine red, this one makes for a stylish departure from the classic stainless steel. Cosmopolitans all round? Red cocktail shaker, £9.99, Drinkstuff.

Change The World notebook
Now that's a mission statement. Perfect for big thinkers with even bigger strategies. Change The World notebook, £7, Beautiful Things.

Apple feeder
Although it's 95p over budget, we couldn't resist giving it a place on our list. This chic apple feeder can be hung from branch, hedge or hook and will help our feathered friends get through the winter. Apple feeder, £10.95, Lily and Lime.

Friendship birds

Made from weathered metal, these two birds make a beautiful and thoughtful gift. Give one to someone special and keep the other as proof of an enduring friendship. Friendship birds, £9, Cox and Cox.

Planning a winter wedding? Here are some useful ideas to make it winter special.

In search of something old? The Vintage Wedding Dress Company sells authentic gowns as well as fur capes, antique lace and other wedding accessories. Restore, reinvent and recreate with the help of Heirloom Couture. Who says second time around isn’t as special?

Keep guests entertained with party tricks performed by magician Daniel Reed. Jazz singer Emma Munro-Wilson or a gospel choir will help them feel the music within, while burlesque dancers will get everyone in the mood.

Wedding romances are always the main attraction, so keep palm reader Philena Bruce on hand to figure out the future of new relationships.

Whatever people say, cards are a big deal. For a stylish start, send Louise Richardson’s bespoke invitations or Chartula Studio’s laser-cut stationery. For everything else, take a trip to Mount Street Printers.

All this planning getting you down? Don’t get your knickers in a twist; take some time off to party with your friends.

By the time the big day rolls around you’ll be high on life; let your guests get high on sugary treats. The Original Tricycle Company has a posh 1930s or a wacky 1960s trike for serving magnificent ice creams. Or opt for a tiered cheesecake piled high with strawberries, blueberries or blackberries.

It’s a sweet start to married life.

Planning a winter wedding? Make sure you don’t get a frosty reception.

In search of something old? The Vintage Wedding Dress Company sells authentic gowns as well as fur capes, antique lace and other wedding accessories. Restore, reinvent and recreate with the help of Heirloom Couture. Who says second time around isn’t as special?

Keep guests entertained with party tricks performed by magician Daniel Reed. Jazz singer Emma Munro-Wilson or a gospel choir will help them feel the music within, while burlesque dancers will get everyone in the mood.

Wedding romances are always the main attraction, so keep palm reader Philena Bruce on hand to figure out the future of new relationships.

Whatever people say, cards are a big deal. For a stylish start, send Louise Richardson’s bespoke invitations or Chartula Studio’s laser-cut stationery. For everything else, take a trip to Mount Street Printers.

All this planning getting you down? Don’t get your knickers in a twist; take some time off to party with your friends.

By the time the big day rolls around you’ll be high on life; let your guests get high on sugary treats. The Original Tricycle Company has a posh 1930s or a wacky 1960s trike for serving magnificent ice creams. Or opt for a tiered cheesecake piled high with strawberries, blueberries or blackberries.

It’s a sweet start to married life.