I was twelve years old in 1975 when the British sitcom The Good Life hit our screens. Tom and...
Living
Grown Gals is about the forging the life we want. This category includes all the everyday details that go into living a better life. It includes thoughts about the environment, vegetarian recipes, foraging, gardening, home interiors, leisure, travel and working.
Seychelles island hopping – tips to make paradise more affordable
I love tropical adventures and this post is about how to experience the Seychelles, the ultimate...
Dog friendly Kent – a road-trip to Whitstable, Ramsgate and...
My other half celebrates his birthday in summer so we usually take a few days off with Ricci, our...
How to make a glass splashback: DIY step-by-step
I have lived without anything behind my bathroom basin for too long. I decided that what I needed...
Ten tips to make the most of a small shady garden
I’ve learned to love shade. From November to March my garden is completely overshadowed by the...
Growing fruit & veg; tips from my secret garden
I have what I like to call a ‘secret garden’. It’s actually a neighbour’s walled garden, which they...
10 rants about the lost art of Customer Service
I keep having the same torturous conversations with customer service departments. It can be a lost...
Wild garlic pesto – recipes for foraged feasts
It’s spring and that means that wild garlic is in season. It grows abundantly across the UK...
How to make healthy fat-free sweet potato crisps
There are lots of recipes for vegetable crisps on the web but many include olive oil and salt. I...
My 5-day detox diary – no dairy, sugar, wheat or alcohol
I’ve just completed my own version of a 5-day detox and I can’t believe how amazing I feel. I’m...
Make new dog friends with home baked dog treats
Having a circle of good friends is important for a dog. The dog fraternity depends on...
How can I get through January without alcohol?
We are just 12 days into the New Year and I’m seriously beginning to regret my dry January...
Borrowing my neighbour’s garden – my first allotment
Back in January I met a gorgeous gal through my local gardening club who offered...
A chocolate masterclass at The Savoy
When I started Grown Gals I anticipated a few invitations but when TENA Lady asked if I wanted to...
Time – why is there never enough?
I just need a few more hours – in every day. I know I’m not on my own. We all have lists that...
Holidays – a time to think
I didn’t write a post last week – I was on holiday, walking in the Lake District instead. We were...
How to make elderflower cordial
Last night as I walked the dog I caught the unmistakeable scent of ripening elderflowers. It’s that...
Women and painful shoes – why do we torture ourselves?
I started thinking about painful shoes when the story broke this week about the...
An A–Z of eco friendly spring-cleaning tips
I love cleaning. I admit it’s a confession at odds with my feminist self, but there it is. I’m not...
Cold Comfort? Escape to the Country
By Louise Kerr Have you ever dreamed of escape from London? Leaving the big smoke, the commute, the...
Mosaic splashback – an easy weekend tiling project
I am so pleased with my tiling efforts in the kitchen that I thought I would share the know-how...
Campervan Love
Does your office look like this? Do you struggle in a busy office or studio to find the peace you...
Teaching an old dog new tricks – how I unlocked the artist in my...
My dad was an ordinary working-class bloke who worked in factories until he retired at 58, and then...
Shades of Grey – the colour of grown-up homes
Grey is everywhere, fashion, interiors, cars, dogs, hair – it’s sophisticated and the perfect...
Veggie supper: feta and spinach filo parcels
I don’t know why I decided to take pics of making tonight’s veggie supper –but somehow it happened...
Friendship in the city – the urban Women’s Institute
Though I love it, there is a bit of me that still thinks the Women’s Institute can’t be cool. Can...
Coffee: how I justify my daily caffeine fix
My other half gave us both a Gaggia Brera coffee machine on my birthday. It was an expensive...
10 Home improvement tips for Empty Nesters
You’ve finally got the place to yourselves and it’s the perfect time to start thinking about the...
Why men are so good at bread baking
As a last-minute Birthday gift I bought my other half a bread making class at the wonderful E5...