Spring is here and you’ve somehow found the time to get stuck into that MUCH needed spring cleaning of your home. You know the one – sorting through all the cupboards, making the decision to not become that hoarder. You’ve done the tough task, you’ve chucked what isn’t needed out and now you want a few ideas on how to get things organised, packed, sorted and ready for Summer. Life hacks, we all need a good life hack, or five.
Being a stylist means I’m surrounded with props and various food ingredients on a regular basis. Things. Stuff. Things. Mounds of paper straws (obviously, this is the norm), ribbon for days, kitchen goods that just end up lurking in the back of my cupboards (shame) and leftover veggies that end up wilted & sad. Clutter! Nobody wants a cluttered life, nobody. How do I take control of the situation and ensure I’m sorted just in time for those warm Summer months? Glass. I adore glass. Consol has been a best friend of mine on shoots and within my home for a very long time. In celebration of Choose Glass Week, I have come up with a few styling and life hacks to make life a little easier.
Let the glass glory commence….
Styling Tip: 1 – Leaves & Bottles Have This Thing…
Who’d of thought a brown little medicine bottle could suddenly turn into a chic looking “flower arrangement”? Now I use the term “flower arrangement” loosely. Flowers are pretty, of course they are, but sometimes simple really is best. These Consol medicine jars make a fab arrangement with a few stalks of blue gum leaves – I love the slight masculine feel and the leaves won’t wilt or collapse on you after only a day of looking blooming perfect. Throw some string or twine around the bottles – because everybody loves twine… A simple, easy, cost-effective and different flower arrangement. Why not?
Tip: 2 – Sprinkles Also Deserve A Home…
Shame, those poor baking supplies, they get the rough end of the stick. Used and then forgotten about because the packaging always seems to break. Colourful anything is lovely, especially in Summer –Consol has a range of small bottles with nifty screw lids – fill those jars with all your leftover sprinkles, 100’s and 1000’s and stack and display as a décor item within your kitchen. Because sprinkles were meant to be seen and eaten and their beauty enjoyed.
Tip: 3 – Take A Twirl In A Glass
Twirly, coloured paper straws – oh so pretty. Oh what a nuisance when you have nothing to store them in. Let’s face it, Summer means pool time, party time and I see punch in your (& my) future. Keep things organized by storing stripey straws (that’s a mouthful) in a clear glass bottle and top with a cork. Arrange in colours and again – place on display!
Tip: 4 – Drinks On The Go….
Now that you’ve sorted that straw crisis out, whip out a few of these “Drinks On The Go” kits for your next picnic. Once again, I see beach picnics in your future, many, many beach picnics… All you need are a few gorgeous, clear, Consol cooldrink-style bottles, a couple of corks, some stripey straws, twine or string & a beverage of your choice – you’ll figure the rest out.
Tip: 5 – Breakfast On The Go, In A Jar
They say that getting bikini ready has a lot to do with preparation. I love a brekkie of vanilla oats and milk. Yes please, thank you. So get sorted and fill a Consol preserve jar with some rolled oats. I love their little yoghurt pots for storing liquids. Add a vanilla pod to the mix and there you go – simply cook it up at your destination. Easy.
Tip: 6 – Get Pickled…
As I’m a food stylist, I naturally adore veggies – eating them and styling them. The pops of colour, crunch in texture and general beauty always make including this food group into any meal rather easy. Sometimes a piece of steamed broccoli needs a little more oomph… That’s why I LOVE pickles, I really do. They can be eaten as is or added to salads or sandwiches. One word, YUM! So get on the pickling train… All you need are a few preserving jars and then we can get started…
Tip: 7 – Choose Your Pickle
Asparagus, a real little thing of beauty and a great pickling veggie. All that really needs to happen here is… Wash and trim the asparagus. I like to chargrill my veggies on a griddle pan first. Having sterilized your Consol preserve jars and lids, place the asparagus in the jars, along with a whole red chilli. Top with a pickling liquor made up of: 2 cups (500ml) white spirit vinegar, 1 cup water, 1 tbsp (15ml) sugar, 7 peppercorns, 2 bay leaves, 2 tbsp (30ml) kosher salt and ½ tsp (2.5ml) coriander seeds. Mix well and fill each preserving jar. Secure tightly with lids and place back into a pot of warm water for 5 minutes. Remove and store out of direct sunlight.
Tip: 8 – Please Pass The Salt
This might be something that just happens to me due to working on food shoots… But I’m always left with bags of salt that end up spilling in my cupboards. I enjoy salt and because of this, I combine it with herbs, preferably rosemary and thyme. In a bowl, mix the salt with some chopped fresh rosemary and thyme, fill a Consol milk bottle with the salt, add a few whole stems of herbs. Seal and store for two weeks before using. A quick, easy, herby salt! They make great gifts, too.
Tip: 9 – Veggies For Days…
Because variety is the spice of life and all that… Take that very same pickling liquor, follow the instructions above but simply substitute the asparagus for purple and green spring onions… Trust me on this one; traditional pickled onions ain’t got nothing on these pickles – nothing! The only thing you would need to do is ensure you have enough Consol preserve jars – because you’ll get requests for these onions. You will.
Tip: 10 – Get Ribbon Sorted!
Again, this might just be me… No, I doubt I’m the only person with a ribbon collection, I can’t be the only one. Get control of that ribbon cupboard by well… preserving them in none other than preserving jars. Yes, no vinegar will be added but glass jars make a décor item out of that ribbon mound, as opposed to a tangle of ribbon misery. Winning!
Choose Glass Week
Date: 28 September – 02 October 2015
*A thank you to Consol for teaming up on this little project & supplying the glass*
