Weather: Nine buys for the meteorologically inclined

“When all is said and done, the weather and love are the two elements about which one can never be sure.” 
― Alice Hoffman, Here on Earth

Squally showers and sleet, mizzle and mist... January is the rainiest month of the year and, this issue, The Simple Things celebrates extreme weather (turn to page 62 for a guide to stormwatching, and page 16 for a celebration of rain).

If you’re as big a fan of blustery British weather as we are then you’ll appreciate these nine buys. Show your love of storms with a pair of lightning earrings, or watch clouds passing across your ceiling with a cumulus lampshade. 

Where to buy

1. Coming out of the radio like a telegram from past era, the shipping forecast is both bamboozling and soothing. Remind yourself of those peculiar words with this screen-printed tea towel, £9.50, Folksy.

2. A fluffy white cloud and a single blue raindrop make this ring a cute and colourful accessory on an otherwise grey day, £6.00, Folksy. 

3. One for the true weather whiz - a 100% waterproof notebook ensures no meteorological markings will go astray, £10.00, Science Museum Shop.

4. The kids might not have heard of Michael Fish, but they can play weather forecaster with this beautiful hand-sewn felt map, £30.00, Corby Tindersticks.

5. Get geeky with The Cloudspotter's Guide - a book written for people like us. Looking up will never be the same again, £9.99, The Cloud Appreciate Society.  

6. Bowie-esque, these rose gold studs are glam AND glamorous, £125.94, Etsy.

7. ... or perhaps a rainy day sterling silver necklace is more your cup of tea? £59.53, Etsy.

8. The bubble cloud motif is a retro classic. Adorn your lights with this lampshade and gaze up, £10.00, The Pippa and Ike Show.

9. Make your own rainmaker - just top an old plastic bottle with this cloud-shaped sprinkler and use it to water the plants, £8.00, Science Museum Shop.

1. Coming out of the radio like a telegram from past era, the shipping forecast is both bamboozling and soothing. Remind yourself of those peculiar words with this screen-printed tea towel, £9.50, Folksy.

2. A fluffy white cloud and a single blue raindrop make this ring a cute and colourful accessory for a grey day, £6.00, Folksy. 

3. One for the true weather whiz - a 100% waterproof notebook ensures no meteorological markings will go astray, £10.00, Science Museum Shop.

4. The kids might not have heard of Michael Fish, but they can play weather forecaster with this beautiful hand-sewn felt map, £30.00, Corby Tindersticks.

5. Get geeky with The Cloudspotter's Guide - a book written for people like us. Looking up will never be the same again, £9.99, The Cloud Appreciate Society.  

6. Bowie-esque, these rose gold studs are glam AND glamorous, £125.94, Etsy.

7. ... or perhaps a rainy day sterling silver necklace is more your cup of tea? £59.53, Etsy.

8. The bubble cloud motif is a retro classic. Adorn your lights with this lampshade and gaze up, £10.00, The Pippa and Ike Show.

9. Make your own rainmaker - just top an old plastic bottle with this cloud-shaped sprinkler and use it to water the plants, £8.00, Science Museum Shop.

Not got January's The Simple Things?  Buy, download or subscribe today.

Words: Lottie Storey

Recipe: Green juice PLUS plan your smoothie garden crops for summer

Use some of your winter leaves to make a nutrient-filled green juice. Make up your own mixtures always using some sweet, green apple to counter nutritious but bitter winter lettuce or kale.

Green juice

For 1 large glass you will need:

6 carrots
2 green apples
Handful of kale
1/2 lemon
Small knob of ginger

Put all of your ingredients through a juicer, sandwiching the kale between the two apples to help it along. Pour into a glass and drink straight away. 

For more of Lia Leendertz's winter leaves recipes, turn to page 40 of January's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe today.

Fancy growing your own smoothie garden? 

Plant pots with a range of fruits and leaves to start yourself on a homegrown smoothie adventure - our guide will show you how.

Los Angeles: Ten classic films set in the City of Angels

Gather friends, crank up the heating to replicate that searing California warmth, and make a batch of uber-healthy green juice – it’s time for an LA-themed movie night.

Inspired by the beautiful photographs illustrating Erin Spen’s tour of Los Angeles in January’s issue of The Simple Things (My City, page 68), we’ve rounded up our top ten films that best capture the City of Angels.

With Hollywood at the heart of the movie industry, films set in Los Angeles have a special appeal. And with the nominees for the 87th Academy Awards expected next week, we’re using these dark winter evenings to best effect – on the sofa watching some of our favourite flicks. No need to dim the lights.

Pretty Woman (1990)

“Big mistake... Huge” says Vivian to the snooty Rodeo Drive shop assistant. A classic line from a classic film, Julia Roberts stars as a hooker-with-a-heart alongside businessman, Richard Gere.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

The intersecting storylines of Los Angeles mobsters, fringe players, small-time criminals, and a mysterious briefcase are told in Tarantino’s trademark eye-popping dialogue to a classic soundtrack.

The Bling Ring (2013)

Sofia Coppolla’s most recent offering is the true story of a gang of teenage thieves targeting LA’s rich and famous to steal their clothes, shoes and jewellery.

The Long Goodbye (1973)

Robert Altman’s neo-noir tale twists and turns through the streets of Los Angeles and on the road to the Mexican border. Starring Elliott Gould as private eye, Philip Marlowe.

Clueless (1995)

Loosely based on Jane Austen’s Emma, Clueless tells the tale of spoilt Hollywood teen, Cher Horowitz. Shallow and silly, Cher and her friends deliver on sharp lines and killer outfits.

Mulholland Drive (2001)

After a car wreck on the winding Mulholland Drive renders a woman amnesiac, she and a perky Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angeles in this twisting neo-noir by David Lynch.

Chinatown (1974)

Frequently featured at the top of ‘best movies of all time’ lists, Chinatown deserves its accolades. Jack Nicholson stars as a private detective hired to expose an adulterer who finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption and murder.

Annie Hall (1977) 

Straying from his beloved New York, Woody Allen’s character Alvy travels to Hollywood to try to win back his eponymous heroine. Plenty of gags poke fun at the superficial LA scene but the film showcases the city in beautiful ways.

The Graduate (1967)

Swimming pools and sunshine abound in this classic film featuring Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock seduced by the archetypal older woman, Mrs Robinson, played by Anne Bancroft.

A Single Man (2009)

Directed by Tom Ford, A Single Man is a beautiful portrait of a grieving professor in the 1960s.  As you’d expect with a fashion designer for a director, every scene is like a perfume ad.

Words: Lottie Storey

Looking back: Marilyn Monroe's yoga

The season of resolutions and good intentions is upon us. In January's issue of The Simple Things we take a look back at the crazy world of womanly workouts through the decades (turn to page 82), but we recently stumbled across these lovely snaps of Marilyn Monroe practising yoga in the 1940s. 

Photographed in some of the more advanced poses, Marilyn looks quite at home with her practice. Inspired by the arrival in Los Angeles of renowned yoga teacher, Indra Devi, Marilyn and many of her Hollywood co-stars took up yoga.

But it wasn't just yoga she practised. Other images of Marilyn Monroe lifting weights have also surfaced. Have a flick through our gallery for more.

Gallery images: Philippe Halsman/Magnum Photos
Words: Lottie Storey

The Simple Things January issue is out now - buy, download or subscribe your copy today.

Recipe: Bircher muesli and other breakfast suggestions

In a nod to a more wholesome, nutritious new year, we present the ultimate breakfast for starting the day as you mean to go on, with the power to stave off morning munchies. Stir and leave to soak before you go to bed and wake up happy.

BIRCHER MUESLI

2 apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled and cored
300ml coconut water (or use apple juice or milk)
300ml plain Greek yogurt (3.5% fat or more)
250g rolled oats, kamut, or spelt
85g dried goji berries
3 tbsp flaxseed
2 tbsp coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves
3 tbsp maple syrup

To garnish:
Fresh berries, mint leaves, granola, Cape gooseberries and chopped nuts

1. Using a box grater set over a large bowl, coarsely grate the apples. Add the coconut water, 60ml of the yogurt, the oats, goji berries, flaxseed, and mint to the bowl and stir until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.

2. Cover the muesli and refrigerate overnight.

3. The next morning, mix the remaining 240ml yogurt, maple syrup and a pinch of salt into the muesli and spoon into bowls. Garnish as desired before serving.

Notes:
Makes about 900g. The muesli can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days. If you’re using coconut water, it’s better to use a yogurt with a fairly high fat percentage.

RECIPE ADAPTED FROM BREAD EXCHANGE BY MALIN ELMLID (CHRONICLE BOOKS, £21.99). 

Want more breakfast ideas?

It's easy to get into a rut when it comes to breakfast, particularly during dark winter mornings. But a warming meal first thing will set you up for the rest of the day. Try these three breakfasts for size, or head over to our Rise and Shine Pinterest board for more ideas.

Quinoa porridge with apples and spice

Image: The Teacup Chronicles

Using quinoa instead of porridge oats results in a lighter, more nutritious porridge, while the spices are warming and the apples add natural sweetness.

Get the recipe.

Shakshuka

Image: The Natural Cook by Tom Hunt

After something savoury? Shakshuka - a traditional Middle Eastern dish - features eggs, tomatoes, and a peppy blend of spices. Guaranteed to get the blood pumping and keep you full until lunchtime.

Get the recipe. 

Brioche French toast

Image: Sunday Suppers

Not everyone is dieting and detoxing this month, and this recipe for brioche French toast is almost bread and butter pudding-esque. Indulgent and delicious - perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

Get the recipe.

Words: Lottie Storey

Bircher muesli recipe from page 128 of January's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe now.

Seasonal mindfulness tips

Cabin fever? A walk isn’t the only way to keep your feet on the ground this season

Pause every now and then and notice the sounds and smells of the season. If you’re cooking, note the flavours and smells of the food. If you're lighting a fire, listen to the crackle of the logs. The essential jobs will feel less like chores if you’re engaged with what you’re doing.

Breathe before you speak. If you feel an argument brewing, inhale to the count of seven and exhale to the count of 11. This powerful pause gives you chance to realise that you have more than one choice or reaction and enough time to think, ‘I’d better not say that.’ 

Remember there’s not much you can do to change how others act or react but you can change your own responses. Pay attention to your triggers. The more conscious you are of these and of your feelings, the more emotionally intelligent you are and the better you’ll behave.

Take five minutes to express gratitude. It’s a way of reminding yourself that every day you experience little blessings and it often helps you find solutions and perspective if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Writing it down can help. 

If you didn't have time for presents for everyone, or to see all the people you’d like to, a heartfelt handwritten card will strike a meaningful chord and stop you feeling guilty.

Taken from December's issue of The Simple Things - still available to buy and download. Or subscribe now, and start with the January issue. 

Recipes: Three ways with coffee

So much more than a liquid caffeine fix, roasted ground beans will enhance all kinds of recipes

Beef in espresso and stout sauce with hasselback potatoes

Serves 4

To make the hasselback potatoes:

1. Prepare 12 small potatoes by finely slicing 2mm slices almost through but not quite to the bottom. 
2. Rub cut potatoes with 25g softened butter, 1 heaped tsp smoked paprika, finely grated zest of 1 lemon and two generous pinches of coarse sea salt.
3. Arrange on a baking tray and roast in a hot oven (200C/Fan 180C/375F) for about 40 mins until brown and crispy.
4. Set cooked potatoes aside to add to the top of the finished casserole. 

To make the casserole:

1. Marinate 750g chuck steak, cut into chunks, in 35ml freshly made espresso, for min 4hrs.
2. Melt 30g butter in a large pan and brown 125g cubed, smoked bacon.
3. Transfer bacon into a casserole with a slotted spoon. In the buttery bacon fat, lightly brown 250g whole, peeled baby shallots and transfer to casserole.
4. Toss the marinated beef in 30g seasoned plain flour, shake off excess and brown in the same pan before transferring to casserole.
5. Deglaze the pan with a slosh of stout (from 330ml bottle) and add this, with any scrapings, to the casserole.
6. Add remaining stout and a bouquet garni (homemade or tea bag), season and bring to the boil on the stovetop.
7. Cover and place in a low oven (120C/Fan 100C/250F) for 1½hrs.
8. Brown 250g button mushrooms in a little butter and add to the casserole for a further hr of cooking (2½hrs total), until the meat is tender.

VOLCANO MARTINI 

Makes 1. 
To give your martini a hint of vanilla, add the seeds from a vanilla pod to 240ml cold-brewed coffee and leave to infuse overnight (or you could just add or drop or two of vanilla essence per martini). 
Combine 50ml vodka and 30ml vanilla-infused cold-brewed coffee in a lidded container, such a cocktail mixer. 
Add 10–25ml condensed milk, to taste; shake and double strain into a chilled martini glass. 
Dust with grated dark chocolate and serve. 

ESPRESSO MILLIONAIRE’S SHORTBREAD

Makes 24 squares. 
Preheat the oven to 180C/Fan 160C/350F. 
Line a 33x23cm shallow tin with parchment. 
Put 210g melted butter, 110g caster sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp salt, 260g plain flour and 2 tbsp ground espresso coffee into a food processor and blitz to form a paste-like ball of dough. 
Press evenly into prepared tin and bake for 25-30mins until firm. W
hen cool, spread over contents of a 400g can of dulce de leche; set aside. 
To make the ganache, chunk 200g dark chocolate and 75g white chocolate into a bowl with 2 tsp sunflower oil. 
Put 200ml cream with 2 tsp ground espresso coffee into a pan over a medium heat. 
Heat until just before it bubbles, then remove from heat and strain through a sieve into the chocolate and oil. 
Leave for 1 min, then whisk gently to combine until smooth. Pour over caramel and smooth with palette knife. 
Leave somewhere cool (not the fridge) to set, then cut into squares.

Recipes courtesy of Volcano Coffee Works (www.volcanocoffeeworks.com), a small batch speciality coffee roaster

Recipe: Christmas chocolates fridge cake

Turn all those stray chocolates into one big guest-pleasing after dinner choc treat

Makes 25 small cake squares

200g dark chocolate
200g milk chocolate
90g butter
2 tbsp golden syrup
10 digestive biscuits
30g macadamia nuts
30g dried cranberries 
A couple of handfuls of Christmas chocolates

1. Line a small metal tray with cling film. In a bowl set over a pot of boiling water, so that the base sits just above the water, melt the chocolate, butter and golden syrup.

2. Put the digestive biscuits into a plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin to break them up a little, then put them into the chocolate, along with the academia nuts and dried cranberries. 

3. When all is nicely combined, tip it onto the tray and spread it out, then push the chocolates into the surface - you want to work quickly so that the molten chocolate is still hot enough to melt them just slightly.

4. Leave to set for a couple of hours in the fridge, slice into small squares and serve.

Turn to page 38 of December's The Simple Things for more of our Boxing Day menu - buy, download or subscribe now. January issue available, too.

January cover reveal

Learning to love January is not so hard. There is comfort in a duvet day, scotch eggs and gathering around the kitchen table. Pull on your boots to watch storms, play in the snow or hide in the greenhouse, hot coffee at your side. We’ve found fitness crazes to make you laugh, winter greens to make you feel good and weekend projects sure to satisfy. A contented new year begins with The Simple Things.

January's The Simple Things is out today - buy, download or subscribe now.

Recipe: Gochujang chicken skewers

Finger food for drinks parties, starters or whenever a yummy nibble might fit the bill.

Makes 20

500g/1lb 2oz chicken thighs, skinless and boneless, cut into 40 pieces
Sesame seeds and thinly sliced spring onions, to garnish

For the marinade:
2 garlic cloves, grated 
Thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, grated
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 tbsp clear honey, plus
extra to taste
1 heaped tsp medium-hot Korean Gochujang paste
20 wooden/metal skewers
A baking sheet, greased

1. Combine all the ingredients for the marinade in a large bowl. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and leave to marinate for no more than 30 mins.
2. Preheat the oven to 190C/Fan 170C/375F.
3. Put two pieces of chicken onto each skewer and lay them on the prepared baking sheet. Cook the chicken for 10–12 mins.
4. While the chicken is cooking, reduce the marinade in a small saucepan on a low-medium heat for about 3 mins, adding a little more honey to taste.
5. When the chicken is cooked, brush or spoon the sauce on top and sprinkle with the sesame seeds and spring onions.

Recipe from Party-Perfect Bites by Milli Taylor. Photography: Helen Cathcart (Ryland, Peters & Small).

More Christmas posts from The Simple Things.

Plenty more festive ideas for gifts, food and fun in December's issue of The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe now. 

Christmas holidays: Kids' activities that help you out

Turn off that TV set...

...and make use of hyperactive kids in the run up to Christmas. Little fingers have many uses.

BAKE MINI CAKES, ginger biscuits or tree decorations or truffles for presents. Decorate and package in a little box, Kilner jar or with cellophane and a piece of ribbon to tie. Great for emergency gifts. 

DESIGN WRAPPING PAPER by taking a sheet of A3 and doodling on it, which you can then photocopy as many times as you want (equally effective in black and white). Other paper ideas are using rolls of black or brown paper and writing or drawing on it with white or coloured pens or using letter stamps to label.

SEW gifts for babies and little ones. Felt finger puppets are easy to make and look cute placed in an egg box. All you need is coloured felt, embroidery thread to sew eyes and pompoms for noses. Also try monster teddies (as mad and misshapen as they like!) or simple drawstring bags.

More Christmas posts from The Simple Things.

Plenty more festive ideas for gifts, food and fun in December's issue of The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe now. 

Competition: Win a winter holiday in Norway with Inntravel (closed)

This is your chance to try out cross-country skiing, courtesy of Inntravel and Norway - home of skiing.

The friendliness of fellow skiers, the feeling of being close to nature, and the chance to fully soak up the scenery make cross-country skiing highly enjoyable. And where better to learn than in Norway, where skiing is not so much a sport as a way of life.

We have teamed up with Inntravel to offer one lucky reader and their companion a holiday in Beitostolen in the Norwegian Highlands. As well as sampling a range of other snow-based activities (husky tours, snowmobile safaris and more), you will be able to try out cross-country skiing. Amiable instructor Tor Havard Kolbu and his team of friendly, English-speaking instructors will ensure you soon master the 'gliding stride', and once you get going you will be clocking up the kilometres in no time. 

The village of Beistolen has a wonderfully laid-back atmosphere, thanks to the Hovi family, who run most of it! Your base, the Bergo Hotel, is full of character, as are its restaurant and cosy bar; and you are bound to find yourselves in the lively Svingen pub at some stage. All in all, this is a fantastic holiday, and the connecting flight from Oslo to nearby Fagernes is the icing on the cake.

How to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What you could win

A week-long holiday for two at the Bergo Hotel in Beitostolen, including flights from London and transfers; dinner, breakfast and lunch pack every day; 6 days' ski hire, free use of cross-country trails and two 90-minute lessons. You can also use the excellent pool and spa facilities of the neighbouring Radisson hotel.

Try other activities (not included), such as husky tours, snowmobile safaris, downhill skiing or ice fishing. 

Departures from 1-29 March 2015 (Sundays to Fridays).

www.inntravel.co.uk

Full terms and conditions.

How to sleep on a sofa

Scene of sleepovers, telly fests and sloth – make sofa-sleeping more comfortable this Christmas 

At some point in all our lives, due to a unfortunate domestic squabble or the arrival of unexpected guests perhaps, we will find ourselves sleeping downstairs on the sofa*. This could mean a night of cramped discomfort and a face pressed against the button-back upholstery. 

Here are a few ways to help avoid potential insomnia:
1. Take as much bedding as possible – preferably a duvet, but a pillow at the very least. Scatter-cushions, a forearm or a bunched-up coat simply won’t do.
2. Remove the back cushions. This creates a surprising amount of room. 3. Lay a sheet on the sofa first, especially if you are on a leather or pleather sofa. Otherwise you will have to be unpeeled in the morning. 
4. Ensure any pets are in another room. There is no room on a sofa for unwanted marauders. 
5. If the TV is nearby, enjoy a spot of supine late-night viewing – one of the very few perks of sofa surfing.

* An average sofa will have been used as a bed for up to 489 visitors in its lifetime.

More Christmas posts from The Simple Things.

Plenty more festive ideas for gifts, food and fun in December's issue of The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe now. 

Boxing Day remix: What do you do with your leftovers?

Boxing Day is often something of a rolling celebration – a chance to keep the festive momentum going, only with new guests, new food and, at some point, a cobweb- clearing walk. Unlike Christmas Day itself, the 26th has fewer set-in-stone traditions, presenting an opportunity to make the day your own.

Turn to page 39 of December’s The Simple Things for our flavour-packed menu (with two puds, because it is Christmas). Dishes are designed with your larder of leftovers in mind – a laid-back spread guests can help themselves to, and which, above all, calls for less effort than yesterday’s romp of a roast. Light some candles, mix up a cocktail or two, and settle in for another day of feasting and fun.

Take our survey and let us know what you do with your leftovers.

There are tons of Wufoo features to help make your forms awesome.

Plus, plenty more festive ideas for gifts, food and fun in December's issue of The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe now.

Recipe: Venetian eggnog

Raise a glass of eggnog, a quintessentially seasonal tipple

Eggnog, or vov, as it’s known in Italy, is a traditional Christmas drink in many parts of the world. The word ‘vov’ comes from the Venetian word for egg. It’s made like other eggnogs with milk or cream, egg yolks, brandy and sugar, but also contains marsala, so it’s a sort of liquid zabaglione.

Venetian eggnog

Makes 1.5 litres
1 vanilla pod
1 litre full fat milk
6 egg yolks
250g granulated sugar 200ml marsala
150ml brandy
2 x 750ml clean, dry bottles and stoppers

1 Slit open the vanilla pod, scrape out the seeds and put the seeds and the pod in a pan with the milk and bring gently to simmering point, whisking from time to time. 
2 Put the egg yolks in a second pan with the sugar and the marsala and beat well. When the vanilla milk is hot but not boiling, stir it into the egg-yolk mixture. 
3 Put the pan on medium heat and warm through gently, whisking all the while. Do not let the mixture boil as it will curdle. The mixture is ready when it starts to thicken. If it shows any sign of curdling or separating, take off the heat and whisk hard. 
4 Strain with a sieve into a pan or measuring jug, add the brandy, leave to cool and bottle using a funnel. Keep for two days before serving, warm or cold. Store in the fridge and shake before pouring. 

Variations: The original vov recipe is made with 90% proof liqueur spirit rather than brandy; if you try this, add another 100g sugar. You can also try a brandy-only version, using the same amount of brandy but omitting the marsala, and topping with grated nutmeg.

Want more? Try our Wassail recipe. Plus, plenty more festive ideas for gifts, food and fun in December's issue of The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe now.

Recipes and images taken from Artisan Drinks by Lindy Wildsmith, photography by Kevin Summers (Jacqui Small, £25) 

Nest: The Christmas rose

Bring a pretty Christmas rose indoors

You can miss the Christmas rose* when it flowers. Its papery blooms appear at exactly the time you stop venturing out: midwinter. Which is a shame as its beauty is just what is needed to dispel gloom. But there is an answer: bring it indoors. A small clump sits happily in a pot and looks especially good when wrapped with twigs and string, as here. Use rich compost such as John Innes No3 and incorporate 25% grit and you’ll get a succession of flowers sure to keep spirits aloft.

*Its genus name Helleborus come from the Greek ‘elein’ which means ‘to injure’ and bora meaning ‘food’. This is a clue to its poisonous nature: do not be tempted to nibble.

Plenty more festive ideas for gifts, food and fun in December's issue of The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe now.

Nest: Christmas style tips from Signe Nordal

Drifts of the white stuff, the smell of cinnamon, a crackling fire, and a pile of beautifully wrapped presents - this Danish family’s Christmas is a yuletide dream come true.

Signe Nordal and her partner Rasmus bought their home in the forest because they fell for its rural location. Now, the light-filled space serves as the ideal backdrop for Signe’s quirky, mismatched style, combining ethnic homeware from her interiors business with Scandinavian design and plenty of colour. Festive cheer comes courtesy of something as simple as bowls of dates clementines and cinnamon sticks.

SIGNE’S CHRISTMAS STYLE

1. Brew a pot of your favourite tea, pour into glass mugs and add rosemary sprigs and a vanilla pod. This will fill the air with a delicious, seasonal scent.

2. Make a beautiful outdoors snow candle holder from layers of hard snowballs. Assemble them in circles and place a chunky candle inside. They look lovely and Christmassy out in the snow with the candles flickering inside.

3. Make one big Christmas decoration for the centre of the table. This year I’m making mine in a large rustic wooden bowl, lined with moss, with a large candle in the centre and surrounded by decorations made by the children.

4. Don’t forget to serve nuts. In Denmark, like in Britain, we fill bowls with different types of nuts to crack and eat them with mandarin oranges and fresh dates.

5. Make a snowy landscape. If the snow doesn’t make an appearance, it will help to compensate. This is fun for the children: Bjork made ours from a metal tray and added cotton wool and spruce twigs for the elves to play in.

6. Decorate the table with multiples: I like to have a forest of matching candlesticks, for example, and a collection of glass fruit bowls of different heights filled with treats always looks pretty.

Signe Nordal runs the family business, Nordal, with her sister Mads Nordal Petersen. The shop sells a range of homeware from the Far East.

Plenty more festive ideas for gifts, food and fun in December's issue of The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe now.

Natural Christmas

Make your table worthy of your Christmas feast by creating one of these last minute decorations using pickings from your garden, window box or hedgerows – simply gorgeous. Vases of larch cones, crab apples and winter berries are quick and easy to do

What you'll need: Jars; ribbon; natural decorations from the garden and hedgerows

1. Keep hold of empty jars in the run-up to Christmas as they can be

recycled into vases.

2. Tie some ribbon around the necks to add a festive touch and fill

with pickings from the garden and hedgerows. Evergreen herbs

such as rosemary and bay work well, providing a lovely aroma.

3. Add a few stems of hawthorn berries or pyracantha for a shot of

Christmassy colour.

4. Even more simple is to fill a few jars with larch cones and crab

apples. On crowded Christmas tables smaller decorations like this

work much more effectively, taking up less space, allowing guests

to chat without being obscured by plant material.

Plenty more festive ideas for gifts, food and fun in December's issue of The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe now.