Ding ding it's your fortnightly Instagram gong!

Here are a fab four to follow this week, that will change the way you view your feed forever :)

Inspiration to make your eyes water, travel bloggers who don't seem to ever be at home but happier than ever, real people blessed with a creative eye, interiors to swoon over and one for the tea lovers. 

For cups of loveliness follow @earlymorningheart. Styling with simplicity, elegance and opulence, often with just a cup and spoon. Creative genius. 

Award winning blogger and editor of Heart Home Magazine will make you long for longer pins, and wear 6 inch heels on a daily basis. @ariannasdaily feed is tranquil and beautiful, mixing soft tones with a pop of colour. Go find the swimsuit photo on the diving board!

I adore the everyday moments of life in Paris, @parisinfourmonths shares on her popular gallery. There's a reason so many love this inspiring photographer. Whimsy, romance and beautiful rooftops. I feel like stepping into her feed is like living in a film set in the French capital. Divine.

Jessica Stein is a travel blogger who allows you to escape from the washing/dog walking/changing the bin bags and dive into her colourful, adventurous world. I am in awe of how many countries and cities and special places she has visited and documents on her IG feed @tuulavintage.  I guarantee, wherever she is the world, you'd like to be there. Not all those who wander are lost. 

Don't forget to check out Who to follow on Instagram #1 too, in case you missed it.

Happy snapping days everyone!

Christmas time means fairy lights and chocolate in this house. A time when it is more than acceptable to have bowlfuls of chocolate on the coffee table and to help yourself every time you are passing.

So can you imagine our faces when the postman delivered the most wonderful hamper from Lindt, bursting with chocolate. All your chocolate dreams come true! 

Almost bigger than the boys, we are now armed with a Christmas (and well into the new year) supply of the most delicious chocolates and I just had to share with you a few ways we have eaten it!

Chocolate is not just for children, it’s for grown ups too and even if this takes me straight to Santa’s naughty list, here is a hot chocolate cocktail recipe for you to try. Naughty but seriously nice!

I love caketails and this is like a chocolate trifle. Mixing together the creamy Lindt chocolate with white chocolate liqueur, milk, vanilla and a raspberry garnish. The world’s best hot chocolate!

Serves 2.

Ingredients:

• 100ml milk
• 1 mini Lindt chocolate figurine
• I shot white chocolate liqueur
• Ground vanilla 
• Raspberry to garnish

Recipe.

Heat your milk gently in a pan and slowly add the chocolate figurine, stirring continuously. Break it into little pieces as you add it to the milk for an even melt. When fully melted and mixed, add your shot of liqueur and take off the heat. Pour into cocktail glasses and add a sprinkle of ground vanilla. Garnish with a single raspberry.

This is the ultimate Winter warmer and heavenly for all the chocolate lovers out there.

The boys love to make chocolate bark, it’s simple to make but looks so effective, and you could easily break a slab up and give it away as Christmas treats for school teachers and friends. I always used to make chocolate crispy cakes with my Mummy, but I think bark might be the tradition with my boys. 

Makes approximately 10” by 8” slab of bark. 

Ingredients:

• 2 Lindt chocolate bears
• Handful fresh raspberries
• Handful fresh cranberries
• Edible gold star sprinkles
• Figurines to decorate

Recipe.

Melt your chocolate bears. Either break and melt over a pan of simmering water, stirring continuously, or melt slowly in a microwavable bowl at 20 second intervals, until smooth.

Whilst the chocolate rests, line a baking tray with cling film or baking parchment. This helps the chocolate to set to the shape of the tray and easy to release once firm.

Pour your melted chocolate into the tray. Tip your tray from side to side to let the chocolate evenly cover the base of the tray. Tap gently on the work surface.

Let your little ones add the toppings. We chose raspberries and cranberries and an extra chocolately layer of figurines, which we lay flat into the chocolate. Finally sprinkle over your edible old stars for a touch of sparkle and festive cheer.

Set in the fridge for 30 minutes. Lift the paper or cling film gently to test if solid.

Remove from the fridge and break into smaller pieces. Wrap in cellophane bags and gift to loved ones, or eat it all yourself!

The boys love making bark because it’s quick. Nothing needs hours in the oven, or time to cool. Plus they get to lick a very chocolately bowl!

How about trying yours with pistachios and flaked almonds for more crunch?

And the last idea I want to share with you is the best Christmas decor you could get. Edible decor!

A Lindt chocolate bauble wreath! This is so simple to make but looks beautiful.

Take your Lindt baubles or Lindor chocolate balls and a single figurine.

Melt the figurine until the chocolate is smooth. Leave for a minute to cool slightly. If the chocolate is too runny it will be messy!

Take your balls and lay out in a circle shape to ensure you have enough for your wreath.

Attach each ball to each other with a dab of melted chocolate and hold in place for 30 seconds whilst the chocolate sets. When complete, transfer to the fridge for 10 minutes to ensure the wreath will stay in place. 

Use a length of ribbon to secure to your door.

What a way to welcome your guests to the festive season!

Now tell me, what would you do with a hamper full of chocolate? Let me know your ideas, chocolate gravy anyone?!!!

Thank you to Lindt who treated us to a magnificent hamper.

One of the amazing things about writing this blog is being able to share the places and people I am lucky to know and discover. These people inspire me to challenge myself creatively and this series, Capturing Creatives, is all about sharing the work of people I admire and shouting about talented individuals you should all know about!

First up is Simeon Wishlade. Sim is an accomplished designer based in London.

I am absolutely in love with Sim's geometric illustrations and the character he is able to create in the digital animals. Sim's illustrations have the ability to combine a contemporary design process with an emotional connection and I find the Baby Emperor Penguin completely adorable!

1. Hello Sim, great to have your creative work on the blog today. Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi Lucy, thanks for inviting me to talk about my work. About me, well, since the age of fourteen I wanted to be a designer and somehow I’ve stumbled my way to being one. I’ve been doing this for over twelve years now illustrating LP & CD sleeves, designing book layouts and websites amongst other things. When not in my full-time job or doing bits of freelancing I’m nearly always found outside playing sport. I spend a lot of my time cycling laps around Richmond Park and carry my EOS 5D in my bag just in case I see the deer out and about being deer like.

2. When did you start making your prints and why?

An ambition of mine would be to have a photo in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition but I have little time to photograph wildlife anymore, plus I don’t have the patience! So I ended up drawing some for fun and putting them on my walls, asking nephews and nieces what their favourite animals were and drawing them and giving them as presents and it’s taken off from there.

3. How do you choose which animals to feature in your work?

I normally ask people what their favourite animals (mine being a penguin!) and drawing them. Some are more successful than others though, I think it comes down to the personality of the animal. Some just work and look great, others take time to become a finish object and others (as hard as it is) you just have to let go because they don’t work at all.

4. What do you love about digital design?

Its instantness, the ability to adapt and change with ease, to constantly update and refine your work. The flip side of this is that nothing is ever finished – at least in print design you have a tangible object in your hands at the end and once it’s being printed there’s nothing you can do about it. Maybe that’s why I enjoy illustrating so much, to a degree it has a time stamp on it, a place in time, and until I chuck it in the bin it’s a product I’ve spent time on. Websites come and go, and all I have for them is a Photoshop file!

5. Which 3 designers work do you admire?

Tom Gauld: his work is beautifully detailed, and the sense of humour within his work always makes me smile.

Jessica Hische: her typographic work is amazing.

Peter Saville: His graphic design work is always a source of inspiration.

You can buy giclee prints of Sim's work or print your own at home with his digital prints available for just £10. 

I just have to have the Baby Emperor Penguin for the boy's staircase!

You can see Sim's portfolio and blog here and follow him on Twitter.

Thank you so much Sim, what a pleasure to highlight your wonderful work.