Home Tweak: Knotted Rope Trivets

Heads up, here is a fun and easy little project that you can make in a jiffy! The other day I created one of those knotted rope trivets and I'm still pretty chuffed about it! Especially since my little kettle looks oh-so elegant sitting on top of it.

Sometimes all you need is to switch off that brain of yours and make something, just because. Try it!

P.S: Doorknob garland, anyone?
P.P.S: How to create your own urban herb garden.

(Photo by James Ransom for/via Food52)

Wednesday Giveaway!

Today’s giveaway is from one of my absolute favourite Ohio based handmade jewelry shops, Jaci Riley Jewelry. Jaci, besides being the sweetest person ever, she also handcrafts the most wearable, beautifully unique and special jewelry pieces around.

Today, she is offering one lucky person a chance to win a pair of her newly designed hammered studs. Aren't they swoonworthy? You can choose between copper, brass or sterling silver. Which one tickles your fancy the most? I am all about copper! You?

For a chance to win you should be a follower of exPress-o, please visit the Jaci Riley Jewelry and tell us which piece is your favourite from the entire shop. As always the giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random on Monday. Good luck!

For extra entries:
Retweet the giveaway, tag a friend on Instagram, follow Jaci Riley Jewelry on Instagram, follow Jaci Riley on Twitter, like the Jaci Riley Jewelry page on Facebook, follow exPress-o on Instagram, follow exPress-o on Twitter or join the exPress-o group on Facebook and please make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. Also, please include your email address, so I can contact the winner. Thank you:) 

Update: The winner is Jana...

Yay! It's Wednesday Cake!

This week is all about simple, satisfying and beautifully versatile French yogurt cake. This loaf is the fluffiest, zestiest and most comforting thing I've eaten in a while. It's the perfect everyday cake that you can serve with ice cream, pudding, fresh fruits or jam.

Personally, I like it best plain, because you can really taste the zesty notes this way, but Balazs is all about eating it with a dollop of homemade vanilla pudding.

Go on, make this cake and top it with your favourite things. Cheers!

French Yogurt Cake
(Recipe by Andrew Knowlton via Epicurious. Makes 8 servings)

Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup sugar (I used maple syrup instead)
- 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest (I used one tablespoon of orange zest and one tablespoon of lemon zest  + juice of one orange)
- 3/4 cup whole-milk Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil (I used coconut oil)
-  2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a standard (8 1/2x4 1/4") loaf pan with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Dust with flour; tap out excess.

Whisk 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt in a medium bowl.

Using your fingers, rub 1 cup of sugar with 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest in a large bowl until sugar is moist. Add 3/4 cup whole-milk Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 large eggs, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract -  whisk to blend.

Fold in dry ingredients just to blend. Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth top.

Bake until top of cake is golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 50-55 minutes.

Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Invert onto rack; let it cool completely. Ta-dah!

P.S: Fancy more?
P.P.S: A sassy GIVEAWAY is coming up!

(Photos by exPress-o)

Dancers and Dogs

Early last year, Kelly and Ian, who are dance photographers, started this adorable project of snapping photos of dancers and dogs. Their goal is to reach 100 dancers and 100 dogs, but the main reason for this collaboration is to show people a lighter side of ballet and make people smile. I love this to pieces, you?

P.S: This.
P.P.S: That.

Springtime

Cheers to the spring equinox! Peeking outside, it doesn't quite look like spring yet, but I hear that it's not long before it will truly arrive. Ah, and when it does I'm planning to take full advantage of it. You? As for me, I'm looking forward to a full spring reboot, asparagus sandwiches on repeat, soft morning spring light showing up in our flat and making a batch of this lilac body oil - it's a keeper.

Now, your turn:)

P.S: This.
P.P.S: That.

(Photos by/via Kate Morrison, Horngry and Theresa)

Spring Lippy

According to all the fashionable Londoners, this lippy in 'control' is the 'it' hue for spring. I've just got it and I'm smitten! Its brick red colour and seductive ultra-matte texture makes it the only lippy I want to wear right now. Try it!

P.S: How to find your go-to lippy colour.
P.P.S: And this.

(Photo by Zara)

Moon Milk

Have trouble sleeping? Your mind doesn't allow you to switch off and let you rest? Try making this moon milk tonight, just before bedtime, and I promise you'll sleep like a baby.

This gem-of-a-mix is full with cinnamon, turmeric, ashwagandah, cardamom, ginger and nutmeg. It will make you feel relaxed and melt all your stress away in a matter of a few sips. It's a keeper! (Here is the recipe).

P.S: Speaking of...
P.P.S: Plus, the best immune boosting elixir.

(Photo and recipe by Alaina Sullivan via/for bon appétit)