Making Time For Each Other { With Fox & Ivy }

I have never been very good at keeping still. I love a busy life and a busy mind. The entire time I have known Si we have always moved at 100 miles per hour. Whether it be buying and renovating houses, to having children and getting married. We didn’t even have time to honeymoon (I’m hoping that we will get chance one day!)

The last few months haven’t been any different. We are currently having two bathrooms installed and updated alongside the fact that Si works 12 hour days and then comes home to study for his MBA every evening. (Which is a Masters in business) I have found myself peering in on him sat in front of his laptop just to fire questions at him like ‘white or grey grout?’ ‘Is Harbor booked in for football this week?’ and ‘Just to confirm those cardboard boxes are not new purchases. ok!’

Tesco have launched a new premium homeware collection called Fox & Ivy. The new range has so many beautiful designs and some of the patterns are bespoke that have been designed in house. While having a look through the products it inspired me to surprise Si with some homemade cocktails and to encourage (force) us to spend some much needed time together. I feel now would be a great time to pop in a little disclaimer that I have never before made a cocktail in my life so the idea was both exciting and terrifying in equal measure. (Pun’s come as standard here)

I picked up these gorgeous Margarita glasses, Cocktail shaker, Marble chopping board and little gold and white nibble bowl which are from the new Fox & Ivy collection. I know this will make me sound easily pleased but there is no greater feeling than doing the food shop and coming away with really great homeware items too.

I chose Margaritas because I like the shape of the glasses and it seemed like a good and easy place to start for a cocktail novice like myself. The cocktail shaker has lots of recipes on it and this is the one I followed. By simply spinning the shaker it highlights the ingredients and measures required for a variety of cocktails.

 

I used pink Himalayan salt to decorate the rim of the glass. Though the camera didn’t really pick up the colour, I felt it added an element of ‘gosh she must have done this before’ to the evening. This, along with shaking the cocktail mixer, was the most fun part of making the drinks. Ive no idea what that says about me.

These were my first attempts and they were a little strong if I’m honest! What was nice was watching Si politely drink his first cocktail and then having a go at making one for himself. I hate to say it but he scored higher on taste than me. However I feel confident that I beat him on the presentation side of things.

Making cocktails was such a different evening for us and it was so much fun. I hope that I put a smile on Si’s face by creating an evening that was special after all the hard work that he does. It is so easy to forget how important it is to make time for each other.

I was really impressed by the Fox & Ivy products and have them on display on my sideboard now. I would love to invest in a drinks trolley to create a permanent home for them and have friends over to show them my shaking skills! Also just as a side note if you are a fan of chopping boards (I have loads because I think they look lovely displayed in the kitchen as well as being practical) then Fox & Ivy have some amazing wooden and marble ones that are on my wish list!

*This is a sponsored post for Tesco to promote their new Fox & Ivy range. As always all words and images are my own and I only promote products that I really love.