I always feel that there's something magical in the air on New Year's Eve, filled with the hope that from tomorrow, this could be the best year yet! And so with magic in mind I decided on an 'Alice in Wonderland' theme for our 2014 New Year's Eve dinner party. Come and enter our very own 'Wonderland' for tips and tricks on how to create your very own Mad Hatter's party...

A new year, a new post! I'd like to welcome you all back to Design!Style!Beauty! and apologise for my very much longer than anticipated absence. I must admit that I have been rather swept up in my maternity leave, or what we've started to refer to in our home as 'Maternity Ever After'! However, I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it (well almost every minute!) and have saved up some goodies to blog about in the coming months. 

So all that's left for me to do is to wish you a very very happy 2014! And on with the blog, as they say (not quite as catchy as 'on with the show' but never mind)!

I have to confess that I am undoubtedly a cabinet neat freak. The pleasure I feel upon opening a cabinet door to reveal its perfectly arranged contents is so satisfying that I can spend hours rearranging cupboards, drawers and cabinets throughout my home. Unfortunately, this neatness does not always extend to the rest of the house and I have an awful habit of leaving things strewn about wherever I last used them - but when they do eventually find their way back to their cupboard, they are placed there with the utmost reverence! 

I always think of chicken as the 'anti-marmite' of the protein world ... nearly everybody likes it and yet no-one has particularly strong feelings towards it! However, I have found two recipes that elavate the humble chicken to a taste sensation that will have your guests declaring a renewed love for this poultry that is so often taken for granted. Simply follow the recipes below, Sweet and Sticky Chicken & Ribs and Lemon and Thyme Chicken Delight to uncover the secrets of delicious chicken main courses. And don't be put off if you're a breast lover as these chicken thighs are so tender and juicy you'll immediately forget that you're not normally a lover of dark chicken! Enjoy!

Recipe:

 adapted from The Newlywed's Cookbook ...

This is a delicious chicken recipe that has never failed to delight my guests and always allows me to relax while entertaining, secure in the knowledge that this chicken will be sumptuously tender and delicately fragrant. This is also a great recipe for entertaining because you can leave the chicken in a hot oven to keep warm whilst plating up your accompaniments and it will not dry out. Finally, although the list of ingredients suggests that this will be a hot and spicy dish, I find it delicious and I am definitely a bit of a wimp when it comes to very spicy food!

Recipe:

Table centrepieces are not just for weddings or extra special occasions. They can liven up any dining table and transform your entertaining into something really special. And what's even better is that they can be created for very little money and effort. Here are 3 that I regularly use as the focal point of my dining table, that you can use as inspiration for creating your own fabulous centrepieces:



 1. Pretty Little T-Lights & Roses:

Whenever I use my fabric napkins I always adorn them with my handmade napkin rings. These delightful napkin rings are incredibly easy to make and will liven up any dining table. And what's more, they are perfectly customisable so you can make your own unique napkin rings simply by choosing your favourite colours and style of beads. 

Instructions:

I am absolutely delighted to confirm that wallpaper has made a huge comeback in recent years! I love wallpaper so much that I have included it in every room of my house (apart from the kitchen and bathroom). Wallpaper began its resurgence with the implementation of the 'feature wall', where one wall of a room features a striking wallpaper and the other walls of that room remain more neutral.