Rustic and effortless outdoor design is extremely popular right now, and this style could give your garden that much sought-after relaxed and lived-in feel.

Focusing on natural, rustic elements and handcrafted decorations in garden design can also be much more eco-friendly and sustainable, which is extremely desirable at the moment due to climate change.

If you love crafts and design and are keen to revitalise your garden with a new rustic style, read on to discover some simple design ideas for your outdoor space.

Rustic lighting

Lighting is an important yet often overlooked feature of garden design. If you love entertaining guests in your garden, lighting is essential for both illuminating the space and creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Creating your own paper lanterns could be a great idea if you’re looking to evoke a rustic and relaxed feel in your garden, but if you want something a bit more sturdy, you could always reclaim old metal lanterns or, if you’d like to buy new lights, you could go for festoon lighting.

Festoon lights are a simple and classic design that will last a very long time and create a cosy atmosphere, and for example, this extendable festoon string lights can be hung anywhere in your garden as long as the lights are connected to a power source and held up by attachment points on furniture or walls.

Plant pots

If you want your garden to look as natural as possible, then having an abundance of plants is an easy way to achieve this. As well as planting seeds in flower beds, you could also start by placing plant pots around your garden to bring nature to every part of the space. For the pots themselves, reclaiming old jars to use as plant pots is a great way to be sustainable and reuse old items, and you could also paint new designs on your plant pots to get creative.

Reclaimed furniture

In addition to reclaiming jars and pots to hold plants, you could also reclaim other items such as old garden statues and wooden furniture. A new coat of paint could be all that is required to breathe new life into these objects, and even better, a slightly weathered look may be just perfect for achieving that rustic and simple appearance. Overall, reclaimed furniture both enhances the laid-back style of your garden and is a more sustainable option than buying brand new items.

Sheds

What can be more rustic than a simple garden shed? A garden shed can complete the overall aesthetic of your garden whilst also providing a perfect place for storage or a quiet place to retreat to. Building your own garden shed would be an ambitious yet rewarding DIY task, and as with the reclaimed furniture, an imperfect and weathered-looking coat of paint would only enhance the rustic and laid-back feel that you’re aiming for. This would be perfect for someone who loves DIY projects and would greatly appreciate their own private garden space.

With these helpful ideas, creating the garden of your dreams will be easier than ever, and you won’t have to compromise on sustainability to achieve the atmosphere you want.

Looking to make great coffee? Here are some great tips to do so.

1. Use fresh, whole bean coffee

If you want to make the best, most flavorful cup of coffee, the trick is to use fresh coffee and ensure you grind it before brewing. In essence, the secret to making coffee that tastes delicious and smells amazing is the aromatic compound found in roasted coffee beans.

It is worth mentioning that once you roast your coffee beans, the degassing process begins. Degassing is the process when aromatic compounds start escaping from the coffee beans, taking most of their flavor as they escape. 70% of these compounds are usually gone by the eighth day, and the coffee loses more of its flavor over time. As a result, you will only have stale coffee left.

This process will occur even faster when you grind coffee since more of the bean’s surface area is exposed. This makes it is easier for the compounds to escape faster. Fortunately, you still have a chance to make coffee that tastes and smells delicious. You could sign up for a coffee beans subscription service and enjoy getting freshly roasted coffee delivered to your home.

2. Use a scale

Another tip to making great coffee is using a scale. There are different types of coffee, so when you use a scale, it allows you to measure your coffee by weight instead of volume. Therefore, you will know just how much coffee you are adding into your cup regardless of the type of coffee you are using.

Often, people use the standard rule of making coffee, where they add two tablespoons of coffee to 6oz of water. There is nothing wrong with this rule/recipe or any other recipes for that matter, but they are not entirely practical. These recipes lack the precision that will allow you to brew great coffee.

There are different coffee types, and blends often tend to have a considerable difference between density and size. Therefore, a tablespoon of one kind of coffee may be way more or less than a tablespoon of a different coffee. So, it is best to use a scale to get the amount of coffee you are using right.

3. Use the correct amount of coffee

While coffee recipes may vary from individual to individual, one thing is constant. How weak or strong the coffee you brew is relative to how much water and coffee you use for your brew. The less coffee you use, the weaker the brew, and the more coffee you use, the stronger the cup you brew. But how will you know how much coffee you need to use?

Well, the best approach is using ratios. So, it has to be a ratio between the amount of coffee and water you are using. For instance, if you are using our Single Origins, we often use a ratio of 1:14, which highlights the acidity and delicate flavors. However, if you are using our House Blend, we recommend a ratio of 1:12 to accentuate its silky body and chocolate sweetness. Note that this is 35grams of coffee and 400 grams of water.

4. Use a burr grinder

To make great coffee, you need to invest in the right coffee brewing tools, like a grinder, which is among the most crucial brewing tools. Typically, ground coffee’s particle size will determine how fast you can extract the flavors from the coffee beans. Note that the small particles extract faster than the bigger ones.

Before you begin to brew the coffee, confirm that all the particles are similar in size, as this ensures they brew at an equal rate. You will have more control over your coffee brewing process if you control the size of the ground coffee. Luckily, that is what a burr grinder offers you. A burr grinder allows you to produce a specific grind size repeatedly.

The Handground Precision Grinder is among our favorite grinders to use at home as it allows you to produce the perfect grind size. It also comes with 15 unique grind settings.

5. Grind at the correct coarseness (or fineness) setting

The grind size determines the type of coffee you make. If you intend to make great coffee, you must ensure that your brewing method is suitable for your grind size. However, the big question is, how will you know you are using the right grind size? Well, the easiest way to tell is taste and time. Generally, a French Press needs a coarse grind, Aeropress and Pour-overs a medium grind, and espresso a fine grind.

When using our pour-over recipes, you have to brew the coffee in three and a half minutes. If your coffee brews slowly, this means the grind was too fine, and if it brews quickly, then the grind was too coarse. It is also worth mentioning that if the coffee tastes too bitter, the grind is too fine, and the grind is too coarse if the taste is too sour and acidic.

It helps to adjust your grind to taste and time as it will help you get a step closer to brewing delicious coffee in your home. To learn about the grind settings we use at our cafes, check out our Brew Guides.

6. Use filtered water

The taste and quality of the water you use to brew your coffee significantly affect your coffee taste. You may not know this, but water makes up 98.5% of brewed coffee. Therefore, your coffee will likely have a strange odor or taste bad if the water you use has these properties.

To make a great cup of coffee and genuinely enjoy it, consider using filtered water. Depending on where you live, you may be able to brew your coffee with tap water if the water is pure enough. However, most places do not have pure tap water, so it will be best to use bottled water or filtered water. Ensure you do not use distilled water if you use bottled water, as coffee does not need minerals to taste delicious and brew well.

7. Always confirm that your water is the right temperature

One of the things people tend to overlook is the temperature of the water they use to brew their cup of coffee. The water temperature will affect what you extract and the extraction speed as hotter water will brew coffee faster than cooler water and vice versa. To get the best flavor, ensure that the water you use to brew the coffee is between 195 and 205 degrees F.

If you brew your coffee with water below 195 degrees F, you will not get the distinct flavor or pleasant acidity you enjoy in your coffee. On the other hand, if you use water above 205 degrees F, you will extract coffee with a bitter flavor. Therefore, you must ensure that you brew your coffee in the sweet spot to get the perfect brew.

Generally, it will help to use water that is roughly 30-60 seconds off the boil as it’s within the desired range. Alternatively, you can use a thermometer used for temperature. The Fellow Stag kettle comes with a built-in thermometer.

The world of casinos has changed for the better in the past few years. Online gambling is at an all-time high, with millions of players getting into the fun every day. However, many still prefer the environment of land-based casinos.

If you’re on the edge about which casino to pick, land-based or online, this is the article for you. Stick around and find the pros and cons of each type of casino. 

Reputation

Online casinos are more reputable than ever. But when we speak of the best land-based casinos in the world, opinions may vary. For some, going with a brick-and-mortar casino may be the best option.

However, this isn’t necessarily true. Nowadays, some online casinos have a huge reputation, extraordinary security measures, and licences by several government entities. Therefore, the difference between land-based and online casinos is minimal.

Bonuses and promotions

This is one of the aspects where online casinos stand out. Since it has a bigger player base, it’s easier to offer special bonuses and perks. This includes deposit bonuses, free spins, or other rewards.

When it comes to land-based casinos, you won’t get any special treatment unless you’re a high roller. For this reason, many prefer going online.

Payment options

Players can only use two major banking options at regular casinos – credit/debit cards or cold hard cash. In the online panorama, bettors can use a wide variety of payment methods, such as; e-wallets, cryptocurrency and many more.

Online casinos also accept a huge variety of currencies. For example, you may find an online casino with NZD, USD, CAD, or EUR. Options are limitless!

Game selection and options

Physical gaming at casinos takes up a lot of space. This means casinos need huge gambling rooms to keep up with their online counterparts.

On the other hand, online players can access thousands of games with just a few clicks. Changing between games is easier than ever; close the game and start a new one. This is why so many prefer online casinos these days.

Game variants also make a difference. While a Vegas casino has two or three blackjack or baccarat variations, for instance, online casinos have dozens. If you’re not a fan of traditional games, online casinos have you covered.

Personal interaction

Nothing beats a nice talk or friendly banter with other players at a casino. This fun and carefree environment is what attracts so many people. And an online casino can’t replicate this feeling, no matter how hard it tries.

Still, live casino games are more popular than ever. With these, players can chat in online virtual chat rooms with bettors from all around the world. While it’s not like the real deal, it’s getting closer day by day.

Conclusion

Choosing a land-based or online casino is a matter of preference. Either way, we’re sure you’ll have a fun and enjoyable time.

Brick-and-mortar casinos won’t disappoint you if you prefer the traditional gambling experience. However, if you’re a modern player that likes getting nice bonuses and more games, online casinos are the right option.

Vladimir Putin says 100,000 Russian troops massing on the Ukraine border is nothing to worry about because it is a work event.

“Our army is working very hard, even if social distancing with Ukraine might be a little awkward,” the Russian president insists.

“We are not, and we never will break any rules, and rumours of an entertaining, booze-fuelled invasion are wide of the mark.

“For complete reassurance, we have asked Sue Gray to report on the terrifying build-up of our armed forces.

“That investigation is still ongoing, so I really can’t comment anymore.

“But I expect to be able to report back, from the steps of Government House in Kiev very soon.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Mr Putin’s explanation was entirely satisfactory.

Downing Street spokesperson Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “Mr Johnson is reassured the Russians are attending a work event, and he may wander out to the Ukraine border to thank them for their hard work.”

Cheer up with a gift mug

Put any thoughts of a European war to one side and cheer yourself up with a cool mug from our pottery partner, DirtyOldGoat.com – they make excellent gifts and come with free UK delivery…

Choosing to quit smoking is never an easy process. However, the positive results from doing so are almost immediate. As time progresses, the effects of no longer smoking get increasingly better. The issue many have with quitting smoking is the struggle of not having a cigarette. The sudden loss of nicotine can cause some who have chosen to stop falling back into old routines.

To avoid picking up another cigarette, many will look for alternatives to smoking. Some of the most common include nicotine patches and gum. Vaping is a viable option to help to quit smoking. It has become one of the most popular tools people use to stop smoking. Part of the reason is due to being able to reduce their nicotine intake. Another reason is due to it being the most effective.

A rising number of people who switched to a vape to help them quit smoking have not picked up a cigarette since changing to an e-cigarette. With more people choosing to switch to a vape, more options are becoming available to entice people further to change.

Despite this, there might be a few areas unclear for those who have just switched to using a vape, such as long-term effects and being able to vape indoors. Here are a few things to know about vaping indoors in the UK.

Smoking in indoor spaces

Smoking cigarettes in indoor spaces, such as pubs, restaurants and workplaces, has been banned since the 1st July 2007. The ban also covers other public spaces, indoor workplaces and public transport. Entrances, corridors and other shared spaces are also smoke-free areas as well. The only exception is designated smoking areas.

However, there is currently no legislation regarding the use of e-cigarettes inside. There are discussions about changing this legislation to make it the same as smoking cigarettes. Yet no further action has taken place. Whether consumers can use a vape indoors depends on the establishment and the rules they have in place. They still have the power to choose to prohibit vaping from their establishment.

The best option is to check with the property owner or manager for those unsure about vaping indoors. The answer will likely be no, but it is better to ask than risk receiving a fine or a potential ban.

Many will also question if vaping can trigger smoke detectors in a building. Vaping does not produce smoke like cigarettes; it produces vapour. As such, it is understandable to assume that vaping will not set off a smoke alarm as there is no smoke produced to detect.

Vaping does not often trigger buildings smoke alarms, but there is a possibility that it can. Three smoke detectors are the most commonly used. Depending on the smoke detector being used will indicate the likelihood of it being triggered by someone using a vape. These are the three smoke detector models available.

• Photoelectric-Based Detectors – These are the most common smoke detectors and are likely to be set off by a vape being used. It detects smoke within its vicinity using optical light beams. When there is enough smoke coating the detector, it will break the light beams, and the alarm will be set off.
• Heat Alarms – Heat alarms are the least commonly used smoke detectors. It is also the alarm that will cause minor problems for those that vape. A heat alarm is frequently used in kitchens. The alarm is triggered depending on the level of heat that it detects, not the amount of smoke. Those using a vape pen will have no issues as the heat produced from a vape pen will not be enough to trigger the alarm.
• Ionisation-Based Detectors – An ionisation-based detector works around small amounts of radioactive materials. These materials are found in between two electrically-charged plates, which ionises the air in the device. This then generates a current that smoke particles in the air will break. When the current is broken, the alarm is triggered. As this detector works with particles, it is sensitive to any changes within its environment. When using a vape, it produces vapour, not smoke. The vapour has different kinds of particles to that of smoke. In theory, using a vape around an ionisation-based detector will not trigger it. However, they have been known to be set off by those using a vape. Using a vape around an ionisation-based detector will be trickier than using it near a heat detector.

How vaping affects your home

When the weather turns cooler or looks unappealing, many will be tempted to vape within their home. The issue with choosing to vape within their home is not knowing how it can affect your surroundings. Many are aware of the effects smoking cigarettes can have on their home but not vaping. Here are a few ways vaping can affect your home’s surroundings.

Potential wall stains

Smoking cigarettes inside your home can cause the walls to stain and any furnishing to turn an unappealing brown shade. When using a vape to satisfy your nicotine craving inside your home, the impact can be less dramatic than smoking a cigarette. The vapour from a vape can leave residue on the wall, attracting dirt.

The difference is that the stains can take a considerable time to build up. These stains can easily be removed by using a wet cloth to clean the stains left. Consider using a vape near an open window to minimise staining impact. Alternatively, try vaping in a room that has plenty of ventilation to prevent staining from occurring.

Odour lingering in the air

Some might notice an odour left behind from using a vape. However, the smell is considerably less noticeable than that of smoking cigarettes. The scent left behind can also be more pleasant than the scent of cigarettes. The smell is usually of the flavour from the e-liquids used.

Like smoking a cigarette inside, using a vape inside will also leave a lingering smell. It can seep into the furnishing in your home. By having good ventilation throughout your home, you can help reduce the lingering smell of vaping odour.

Affect resale value

If you have plans to sell your house in the future, vaping outside might be the preferred option. Some vaping products produce odours that can be challenging to remove. Although these smells might not be as strong as cigarettes, potential buyers might still notice the odours from vaping whilst touring the house. It could impact the value of your home. These smells could be off-putting and could potentially turn people away from placing an offer on the house. It can make it challenging to get a sale made for your home, further delaying the selling process.

In conclusion

Vaping indoors can have an impact on indoor air quality. Whether you choose to vape in your home or you allow others to do so, it can pose a risk to your air ducts over time. The risks to the air ducts are what impacts the air quality is like within your home. Many will treat using a vape indoors as smoking a cigarette inside. Using a vape indoors at home is your choice, but you might be restricted in public spaces.