Sign up for my newsletter if you enjoy easy recipes anyone can make, ideas to help you make the most of your home, travel stories and tips, and inspiration to help you embrace your own unique style.
Share
Books that Changed My Life, A Brand New Recipe and More!
Published 12 days ago • 3 min read
Hello!
How are things in your corner of the world? My husband and I are just settling in at home after three weeks away in the US - but I'm delighted to announce there's more travel on the horizon soon!
There's more on that below, as well as three books I hope will inspire you as much as they have inspired me over the years. Plus I've got some delicious treats - including a brand new recipe on the blog. But first, a little peak behind the scenes.
Fast forward two years and we are off again - but we'll be heading to Alsace in France, on the border of Germany and Switzerland. We are taking the Bentley once again but this time our 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air (aka Tiffany) is coming along instead of the Rolls.
I took this photo as Tiffany was headed out for her pre-trip service - it's so important to make sure the cars are in great shape before we head off. We are all getting very excited about our trip! But first, Guy and I have another trip coming up next week that I will share a bit more about in the "This week I'm..." section below!
On St Patrick's Day, I posted a reel in tribute to my brave paternal Grandma, whose locket I am wearing in the photograph above. If you are interested in learning my Grandma Mary's story and seeing the photographs inside the locket, just click here to see it on Instagram or here for Facebook.
Three Books That Changed My Life
Here are three of the books that changed how I look at the world. (This section includes affiliate links*.)
This is a collection of 365 essays explaining simple ways to bring more gratitude, simplicity, order, harmony, beauty and joy into your life. I first read it when it was published in 1995, and I have read it every year since!
Published in 2009, this entertaining read offers lots of concrete hints and tips to bring more happiness into your daily life as well as inspiration for a happiness project of your own. I have re-read this book many times over the years and every time I read it I get new insights.
Jeffers explores fear as a natural part of the human condition, not something to be ashamed of or that we should allow to stop us from moving forward. It's a practical yet empathetic guide that I found really helpful, and I still refer back to it today.
Is there a book or books that changed your life? I would love to know! You can just hit reply to send a message straight to my inbox.
A Brand New Recipe
This dairy-free chocolate cake recipe has such a deep chocolatey flavour and wonderful texture that no one will guess is made without butter or milk. You can make it as a Bundt Cake, layer cakes or cupcakes.
Not in the mood for chocolate?
Lemon Crinkles
Try these delicious Lemon Crinkles. They are light, lemony and delicious!
Links marked with an asterix (*) are affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This week I'm...
My husband gifted me a city break for our anniversary, so I'm getting ready for a trip to Vienna! It's our first visit, so if you have been, please hit me up with your recommendations by replying to this email.
Reading - Introducing Mrs Collins* by Rachel Parris, a sequel to Pride and Prejudice and Salt, Acid, Fat, Heat* by Samin Nosrat, a Mother's Day gift from my son Alexander and his partner Hannah.
Watching - The new series of Scrubs (Season 10) on Disney Plus
Listening to - The Road to 1 Million Pageviews with Rachel Kirk on the Food Blogger Pro Podcast (Episode 562)
Looking forward to - All the travel we have coming up - and a visit to London to see SIX the musical. It's all about Henry VIII's six wives.
That's all for now. Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you again next week!
Thank you so much again for being a subscriber. Remember you can reply to this email with any questions, comments, suggestions or just to say hi. I love to hear from you.
Warmly,
April x
April J Harris | Helping you make the most of life at home and away
Helping you make the most of life at home and away
Sign up for my newsletter if you enjoy easy recipes anyone can make, ideas to help you make the most of your home, travel stories and tips, and inspiration to help you embrace your own unique style.
Hello! How are you doing? Spring has definitely sprung here in the south of England. Flowers are blooming, the mornings are brighter, and the clocks sprang forward this weekend, so we should be enjoying much longer days very soon. Behind The Scenes My husband Guy and I took a little trip to Vienna last week - 24 hours in an unforgettable city we both hope to return to very soon. We walked over 20 km in just 24 hours through beautiful streets, toured the Vienna Opera House, enjoyed authentic...
Hello! How are things in your corner of the world? My husband Guy and I arrived home yesterday after whirlwind 3 weeks away in the US, a trip that combined work meetings for Guy and catching up with friends along with some time together to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. The grey weather here in England may be a sharp contrast to the sunshine we've been enjoying in Arizona, California and Hawaii, but I have come home to a garden in full bloom. My flowering cherry tree is heavy with...
Hello! When I was a little girl, afternoon tea meant those wonderful occasions when Mom would get out her Brown Betty teapot, let me choose one of the vintage china teacups from her collection and we would sit down and spend some time together. Mom showed me how to warm the teapot and pour the just boiled water carefully over the teabags. Then we would add just a bit of milk to the china teacups so that the tea didn't cause them to crack. After stirring in just a sprinkle of sugar, we would...