Author: Hayley Cowlishaw

Celebrate Easter Outdoors

5th April 2022 No Comments Blog

Are you considering celebrating Easter outdoors this year? We have put together a few ideas to get you started.

Don’t let the weather put you off!

Unfortunately, one thing we can’t plan in advance is the weather. But, it doesn’t have to ruin your plans if the rain starts to fall, you just need to be prepared. Gazebo’s are a great investment if you don’t already have one. They can be used over and over throughout the year, and look great decorated with lights and garlands for celebrations.

Add a personal touch with hand made decorations

You will find hundreds of idea’s online for DIY Easter decorations, why not get the kids involved too?  Not only will this save you money, it keeps your children entertained during the holidays too! Your hand made décor is guaranteed catch eyes and strike up conversations between guests too. Give it a go, and have some fun with it.

 

Organise an egg hunt

Firstly, you will need to decide on whether you want to go all out, keep it simple or aim for somewhere in-between. Above all you want to keep it fun and not cause any unnecessary stress for yourself. As well as chocolate, it is a nice idea to place clues and riddles along the way too.

Go for the unexpected and get the BBQ out

Without a doubt, everyone loves a BBQ! If you haven’t already lit yours this year, then Easter is the perfect opportunity. Keep the traditional Easter theme with lamb and vegetable skewers or serve favourites, like sausages and burgers. Either way it will most definitely be a delicious treat for all.

Not only is Firemizer beneficial on your log burner, did you know it also works great on BBQ’s?! If you have some life left in your existing Firemizer, simply migrate the material into your barbecue and place your coals on top. It’ll get your coals hotter much faster, help them to burn more efficiently and last up to a third longer! Furthermore, it will reduce any harmful pollutants emitted by 72%. The only way to BBQ is a BBQ with firemizer!

 

 

Get Spring Clean Ready!

8th March 2022 No Comments Blog, Fire Expert

February has been and gone, and Spring is now on the horizon. As we welcome longer, milder days, that Spring clean might be creeping to the top of your ‘to do’ list.

Now is the perfect time to plan and prepare!

Make A List

Never under estimate the effectiveness of a list. There is nothing like the feeling of ticking off those little jobs that have been hanging over you. A typical list might look something like this…

  • Hoover/Sweep/Mop Floors
  • Empty bins
  • Dust – high & low!
  • Wipe door handles & light fixtures
  • Wipe window sills & ledges
  • Change bed linen & towels
  • Clean kitchen appliances – inside & out!
  • Wipe countertops & cabinets
  • Wash the dishes
  • Clean & disinfect toilets
  • Bathroom clean – sink/bath/shower
  • Wipe skirting boards
  • Clean windows – in & out

Purchase Necessary Cleaning Products

Take a look down your to do list and jot down what you will need for each job. But, keep your items to a minimum. Too many cleaning supplies can create unnecessary clutter. Choose a good all purpose cleaner and some cloths that will cover the majority of surfaces in your home. Then, you can purchase other specialty cleaning products, such as window cleaner, furniture polish and disinfectant.

Declutter

Leading up to your deep spring clean, start tackling area’s one at a time. Throw out, out of date food from your fridge and cupboards. Clean out your junk drawers, take clothes and items you no longer need or use to your local charity shop, and so on. You’ll feel so much better afterwards!

Get In The Mood

Prepare yourself mentally, think about how great it will feel when your home is fresh, clean and organised ready for the new season. Make it fun, get your favourite feel good playlist ready to blast out! Finally, set a date. Mark it on the calendar and commit to it.

 

Valentine’s Day The Eco-Friendly Way

11th February 2022 No Comments Blog

Valentine’s Day can have a huge impact on the environment. Over 40 million of people in the UK are expected to celebrate this year. So that’s over 40 million cards covered in glitter, glue and metallics that are not recyclable. We also spend over £1 billion on gifts like balloons, teddy bears and decorations that are impossible to recycle. Consequently these end up in landfills.

But, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate the day of love! We should just be more mindful of how we choose to. Here are a few ideas for a more sustainable Valentine’s Day.

Eco-Friendly Cards

Why not give the ultimate personal touch, and make your own card? Have a rummage through your recycle bins and junk drawers for things you could use and let your artistic side run wild. Another option is buying from an eco-friendly company. I have found a fantastic business that hand makes cards from 100% recycled paper and seeds. After use the card can be planted in your garden and will grow into beautiful flowers! Check them out here – Eco Friendly Cards.

Did you know, ash from your fire can be a useful additive to your compost heap? or, it can be applied directly to fallow ground and dug in.

Get Your Bake On!

Show how much you love someone by spending a couple of hours in the kitchen making them a sweet treat. Cupcakes are really simple to make and perfect for sharing too. You can’t go wrong with cookies, and you can decorate them to your recipients taste. If you don’t have much time, chocolate-dipped strawberries are a guaranteed winner. Drizzle white chocolate over milk chocolate for the extra wow factor!

Swap Flowers For A Plant

Cut-flowers are a beautiful gift to receive, but unfortunately they don’t last. Wouldn’t it be much better to receive a house plant, that with care and attention, will stay alive. House plants act as a natural filter to indoor pollution, research found that there are over 50 houseplant types that remove pollutants and gases. And that’s not all, it’s a gift that keeps on giving! Plants have also shown to lower stress levels and help to improve your wellbeing.

So show the planet some love this Valentine’s Day and opt for  the eco friendly way!

Happy Valentine’s Day ♥

Energy Saving Week 2022

18th January 2022 No Comments Blog

Energy Saving Week is a national campaign to help and encourage people to save energy and cut fuel costs. The event is in partnership with Citizens Advice, the Energy Saving Trust and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. It is also supported by numerous organisations, charities and companies.

Sitting down and going through your bills may not sound very appealing. By dedicating just a few minutes each month exploring where you can save money will quickly show in your bank balance.

There are many ways to save money on your energy. Switching your supplier or tariff to get a better deal can make a big difference to your bills. Use the Citizens Advice energy price comparison tool to see if you can save money.

Small changes around the home will knock £££’s off your energy bills. Here are some figures for you:

  • Switch lights off even if for just a few seconds when not in use, it will save more energy than it takes for the light to start up again. This will save you around £14 a year!
  • Turn your appliances off standby mode and remember to not leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily. This will save you £30 a year!
  • Spend one minute less in the shower each day and a family of four could save £75 a year on energy and water bills!

If you have a wood burner in your home, try our fuel-saving device Firemizer. Once in place, Firemizer reduces the burn rate and spreads the heat evenly across your fire. This ensures all of the fuel is burnt thoroughly. You can then enjoy your perfect fire for longer and cut costs on firewood & coal.

Independent tests by the University of Cambridge, the University of Nottingham and Kiwa GASTEC at CRE in the UK, as well as OMNI-Test Laboratories Inc in the USA have all shown that using Firemizer can save you up to 38% on your fuel costs and can last up to 500 hours.

Start saving money with Firemizer today!

                                                                                                                                             

Easy To Make Chocolate Yule Log!

8th December 2021 No Comments Blog, News

The yule log has been a Christmas tradition since way before the medieval times. Originating in Norway, a giant log would be hoisted onto the hearth to celebrate the return of the sun each year. A simple ritual would be held by having each family member write down wishes, place them on the log and burn them on the fireplace. What a wonderful tradition to have, I personally would love to begin this tradition with my own family, why don’t you give it a go too?! (Don’t forget your Firemizer)

In the 19th century the chocolate log was invented in France, a rolled chocolate sponge cake to resemble a miniature actual yule log. Here we have an easy to follow recipe to make this delicious Christmas treat for you to enjoy.

Ingredients

For the sponge
  • 5 eggs
  • 100g plain flour
  • 50g cocoa powder
  • 100g caster sugar
For the topping
  • 300ml double cream
  • 300g dark chocolate
For the filling
  • 300ml double cream, whipped

Method

For the sponge
  1. Preheat your oven to 180C. Grease and then line the base and sides of a 30 x 35cm Swiss roll tin with baking parchment.
  2. Separate your eggs, and put into large mixing bowls. Add the sugar and 2 tbsp of water to the egg yolks. Using an electric whisk or mixer, whisk the sugar and yolks for around 5 minutes until the mixture is light in colour and thick enough to leave a trail when the whisk blades are lifted. Sift in the flour and cocoa, then fold in lightly, using a large metal spoon.
  3. Next beat the egg whites until stiff, then fold into the cake mixture in three batches, using the blades to preserve as much air as possible.
  4. Pour the mixture into your tin, carefully spreading to the edges. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cake feels firm to the touch.
  5. Place a large piece of baking parchment onto your work surface and sprinkle lightly with caster sugar. Turn the cake out onto the parchment and peel off the lining paper. Cover with a clean tea towel, then leave to cool completely.
  6. Then score along the edge of one of the long sides of the cake and roll up from there, using the paper to help you, rolling the paper inside the cake.
For the topping

  1. Heat the cream in a pan then remove from the heat and add the chocolate, stirring until it is melted. Cool to room temperature, then put into the fridge to firm up.

  2. Unroll the cold Swiss roll and remove the paper. Spread the whipped cream on top, and re-roll tightly.

  3. Put the chocolate icing into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. Pipe long thick lines along the cake, covering the cake completely so it looks like the bark of a tree. Alternatively, just use a palette knife to spread on the icing and create rough bark texture with a fork.

  4. Finish with a dusting of icing sugar and add your chosen decorations. Tip: sprinkle with edible glitter to make it look extra special!

 

5 Ways To Stay Healthy This Winter

11th November 2021 No Comments Blog

It’s especially important to stay happy and healthy during the colder months. Here we have 5 tips to help you fight off the colds and winter blues.

With winter just a few weeks away, it will soon be time to snuggle up indoors by the fire, hot drinks, stew in the pot and cosy blankets. But it’s also the time of year for the dreaded shovelling of snow, scraping your car windscreen and those unwelcome colds and bugs.

1. Keep Warm

Cold weather can affect your body’s ability to fight off viruses and infections. By keeping warm, you can help yourself stay well this winter. Your home should be heated to around 18-21ºC especially in your living room during the day. If you have a wood burner, not only does it do a great job of keeping your home toasty through winter it also helps to reduce your blood pressure. Just watching a fire and listening to the sounds of the crackling wood will bring your heart rate down leaving you feeling both relaxed and warm.

2. Exercise

It’s easy to let your exercise routine slump during the cold, dark months of winter. It’s harder to get out of bed in a morning and all you want to do is cosy up by the fire of an evening. Keep up with your routine and you will feel the benefits. Exercise is great for physical and mental health and will help to keep your stress levels down. If you don’t fancy a run in the cold and wet, head to the gym instead or stick on a fitness program at home to get your heart pumping. It’s important to not over do it either as that’s when illness can strike!

3. Sleep Well

8 full hours of sleep every night is recommended. Sleep boosts your immune system, your immune cells and proteins get the rest they need to fight off whatever comes their way, like colds or the flu! Other benefits include weight loss, better moods and it can also strengthen your heart.

4. Eat Well

Eating a healthy, varied diet is essential all year through. Are you getting your 5 a day? Fruit and vegetables should make up just over a third of the food you eat each day. There’s evidence that people who eat at least 5 portions have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.

5. Supplement with vitamin D3

Because there’s less sun in the winter months, we don’t get as much vitamin D. Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system so supplementing through winter will give you a boost.

 

Easy Pumpkin Carving Ideas

26th October 2021 No Comments Blog

The carving of a pumpkin into a Jack-o’-lantern originates from an Irish myth about Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil for his own monetary gain. When Jack died, the legend goes that God would not allow such an unsavoury figure into heaven. The Devil would not allow Jack’s soul into hell either, so Jack was sentenced to roam the earth for eternity.

In Ireland, people started to carve scary faces out of turnips and potatoes. They would then place them into windows or near doors to frighten away Jack’s wandering soul.  Irish immigrants took this tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and found that pumpkins are perfect for carving!

Pumpkin carving is the perfect opportunity to get creative at Halloween. Simply choose a large pumpkin and use a knife to cut off the crown. You then need to scoop out the seeds and fibres and discard. Tip – to keep your pumpkin fresher for longer, give it cold bath with a splash of bleach to keep the mould away! You can now design your lantern by either using a marker pen or a printed template. You can’t go wrong with the traditional Jack O’Lantern design, it looks great and is really simple to carve. If you’d like to go for something a bit more adventurous you can find lots of printable stencils online. Simply attach the template onto your pumpkin with pins or tape and use a nail or sharp tipped object to poke through and mark.

There are lot’s of other fun but simple ideas for your pumpkins, instead of discarding the seeds and fibres use them to create a vomiting pumpkin! Or how about carving a smaller fruit and posing it in your lanterns mouth. Pumpkins look fabulous with an autumnal spray of flowers displayed as a centre piece on your table. You can even cut out carving altogether and simply decorate with paint, glitter and other crafty materials. The main thing is you have fun with it!

Happy Halloween!

 

 

End of Summer Gardening Tips

10th September 2021 No Comments Blog

We are well into September and Autumn is just around the corner. Now is an ideal time to get your garden in order. If you work your way through our useful checklist of essential gardening jobs, come Spring you’ll reap the benefits.

1. Whilst it’s still relatively dry, get the mower out. Autumn often brings increased rainfall, making mowing a challenge so it’s best to tick this one off on a dry day.

2. Controlling weeds in late Summer will help reduce their presence in the following Spring and Summer.

3. End of Summer cutting back and pruning is essential to your gardening list. Cut off faded blooms just above two or three leaves behind the flowers. Not only does this process clean up the plant’s appearance, but it also encourages your flowers and plants to continue to grow thicker and fuller than before.

4. Take cuttings from plants such as fuchsias, salvias and pelargoniums. They root quickly and if they are then kept indoors they’ll be ready for planting out next Summer.

5. Prepare to fill your garden with colour come Spring. Now is the perfect time to plant bulbs such as daffodils, crocuses and bluebells. When buying bulbs check they are as fresh as possible, or you could face disappointment.

6. Clear up any fallen leaves, try to do this job on a dry day as leaves are more easily picked up when they are crispy rather than wet, heavy and soggy.

7. Keep the colour in your garden by re filling your pots with Autumn/Winter flowers. Pansies are a favourite! They always look lovely and are also very hardy.

8. If you don’t already have one, consider a compost bin. Compost acts as a wonderful slow release organic fertiliser, but you must avoid putting diseased or infected plant material in your bin.

How To Cook Bread Over Your Firepit

18th August 2021 No Comments Blog

Cooking bread over a firepit couldn’t be simpler. The summer holidays are in full swing and you might be running out of fun things to do to keep the kids entertained. Fire building and cooking is without a doubt a favourite with both adults and children alike. You can cook just about anything over an open fire, but some of the best recipes are the simplest. Trust us when we say that freshly baked bread smells even better on a campfire!

You could start your activity by going on a stick hunt. The best sticks should be long enough so that you can hold them at a comfortable distance from the fire and around 1.5cm. Freshly cut greenwood is good, because of its moisture it won’t burn so easily.

How to cook bread on a stick over your firepit

Ingredients
  • Plain flour 150g
  • Salt a pinch
  • Olive oil 1 tbsp
  • Cold water
  • Sticks

Method

  1. In a large bowl mix the flour and salt together. Add the oil and a few splashes of water, then bring the mix together with your hands.
  2. A little at a time add water to form a dough. If you add too much water, don’t worry, just add a little more flour.
  3. Split the dough into quarters and roll it between your palms to form a long sausage shape.
  4. Wrap the rolled dough around your stick; make sure your stick is long enough to keep your hands from getting too close to the fire.
  5. Hold your dough over you firepit, turning the stick until the bread turns golden brown on all sides.

Tip: add butter, jam or even Nutella for an extra special treat!

Remember with open fires and children, you have to be extra careful. Never leave your children unaccompanied by your firepit.

Don’t forget to use firemizer under your charcoal or wood as this will help even out heat giving you an even burn which helps cook over a fire!

Why Firepits Are Good For You

13th July 2021 No Comments Blog

Firepits don’t just bring you warmth, they have lots of other advantages too. As well as being practical they can bring you health and emotional benefits too. Here’s just a few reasons why firepits are good for you…

Help you to relax and unwind

After a busy or stressful day can you think of anything better than sitting by an open outdoor fire? Scientists have found that an open fire reduces blood pressure. Subsequently the longer people sit in front of a roaring fire, the greater the relaxing effect it has on them.

You can use them all year round

Using a firepit enables you to enjoy outdoor living all year round. As a matter of fact there is no reason why you can’t throw an outdoor party, even in the middle of winter! Undoubtedly a burning fire is sure to keep your guests warm on a cold evening. In fact, why not get out the marshmallows for a delicious s’mores treat for everyone to enjoy.

It lights up the night

No outdoor lighting can compete with the blaze of a real fire. Firepits provide an ambient glow to your evening long after the sun has gone down. Make the most of your garden sat in the warmth and comfort of your open outside fire gazing at the stars.

Creates a romantic atmosphere

While firepits great for gatherings, they also set the scene for a romantic evening for two. No need to go ‘out out’, as an alternative share a bottle of wine and gaze at the twinkling sky snuggled up with your loved one.

You can use it to cook

Cooking is simple using your firepit. All you need is a grill rack, a couple of pots and some tin foil. Classics such as hot dogs, burgers and kebabs are always delicious. Try wrapping potatoes in foil and tucking them amongst the coals for perfect jacket potatoes!

 

Now you know why fire pits are good for you, keep your fire burning even longer into the night by adding Firemizer. Click here to order yours.

 

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