Welcome to the Hearth and Soul Link Party! Spring has sprung and I’m thinking a lot about having room to grow. With the long term very strict lockdown restrictions in the UK, and other lockdown restrictions elsewhere, I believe everyone has been feeling very shut in both physically and mentally. Now, as things slowly begin to ease, we can think about giving ourselves the space we need to recover from the events of the last year and grow back into ourselves.
The Hearth and Soul Link Party welcomes blog posts about anything that feeds the soul. Things that feed the soul may include (but are not limited to) recipes, decorating, crafts, family, home, DIY, organization, travel, book reviews, the arts and self improvement.
How are you doing? I’m excited for the season to come, especially as this week we will hopefully get to see our son and his partner in real life for the first time since October. From Monday the restrictions that meant we had to stay within 5 to 10 miles of our homes are lifted. We can finally see up to 5 other people from a maximum of two households outdoors! We still can’t have people in our homes, but slowly, slowly, things are opening up. As long as all of us can be sensible and not push the boundaries, we should be able to continue in a positive direction throughout the coming months.
What’s Been Happening
I’m still focusing on healthy eating and fitness, and while I’ve had a few slip ups, I’ve now managed to maintain my 30 pound weight loss for over four years. I’m sharing some of the things that worked for me in How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off.
It is all about balance though, and I do enjoy the odd treat. If you are like me, you may want to grab one of the last few places on the live online Traditional British Afternoon Tea Class I’m offering on 9th April.
I could use your help…
I’m doing some research as I am hoping this will be the first of several new online classes. It’s tricky with the time zones so if the timing of this class is making you hesitate, please drop me a message and let me know what sort of days/times would work better for you. It will help me so much with forward planning!
Back to healthier treats..
One of the ways I’ve kept the weight off is by eating healthy breakfasts. This is one of my favourites.
My Best Avocado Toast is miles away from ordinary smushed avocado on toast. I’ve got very happy memories of how I discovered the recipe as well.
When it comes to easy suppers, this is one of my go to recipes.
This fresh and delicious Cod with Chickpeas in a Mediterranean Ragu always makes me feel like spring. If you serve the recipe over quinoa or rice, it’s gluten free too!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring content with the Hearth and Soul Link Party.
Room to Grow Featured Posts
Room to grow featured posts from top left, clockwise:-
I love how easy this vintage recipe for Easter Bunny Cake from Carol at Comfort Spring is. What a wonderful celebration cake for Easter!
Miz Helen of Miz Helen’s Country Cottage definitely has room to grow now she and her husband Leonard have expanded their garden. I really enjoyed seeing the inspiring photographs of how they are bringing their garden back to life After The Storm and a very hard winter.
Grow your cookie recipe repertoire with Over 70 Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookie Recipes from Shirley at Gluten Free Easily.
My crafting skills are not that great but even I can make this gorgeous Egg Basket with Spring Flowers from Fresh Vintage By Lisa. Lisa’s step by step instructions make this pretty Easter centrepiece really straight-forward to make.
On with the party!
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
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Take care. I wish you a week full of blessings, and I look forward to seeing your posts.
Comments & Reviews
Thanks for the feature of my Easter Bunny Cake – hope you’re having a beautiful spring!
It’s a pleasure, Carol! I hope your spring is beautiful too!
Hi April,
What a fantastic surprise and thanks so much for the awesome feature for my garden post After The Storm. We are so grateful that most of our trees, shrubs and smaller plantings are beginning to come back to life after such a horrible winter storm. I want to check out several of the post at this weeks party and thanks so much for hosting it for us. You have a wonderful week!
Miz Helen
It’s my pleasure, Miz Helen! I’m so pleased to see your garden is recovering and that you all came through the storm so well. Take care and have a wonderful week!
We are doing a lot with avocados lately! Thank you for the inspiration!
Thank you, Michele!
Love the Easter Bunny Cake! Thanks for hosting, have a great week ahead.
Thank you for visiting and sharing, Melynda! I hope you have a great week too!
You look fabulous April – keep up the great work!
Have a wonderful Holy Week!
Thank you so much, Ramona. I hope this week is full of blessings for you!
Thanks so much for hosting! I’m linking up with my SPRING BLESSINGS PRINTABLE. I’d like to invite you to drop by and linkup at some of my parties.
Thank you so much, Dee!
Thanks for hosting us. 🙂 I kept it easy this week and brought by some Zucchini Stir Fry. Hope you enjoy!
I’ve got some zucchini in my fridge right now, CJ, so it’s perfect timing! Take care and have a great week.
I’m so happy that you’ll get to see your family in person again! That is so huge! I’m looking forward to seeing more of my own family in a month and getting to hug my in less than 2 weeks now that I’m fully vaccinated! 🙂
Thanks so much for featuring my oatmeal cookie recipes roundup! There’s definitely something for everyone there–even for every possible cookie mood. 😉
That Easter bunny cake is so cute and who can resist a centerpiece with Easter eggs and fresh flowers?
This week I’m sharing my updated, timely collection of Hot Cross Bun recipes and Vinegar Pie, which is a perfect dessert for Easter, with its bright yellow color and sweet-tart taste. 🙂
Have a great week, April!
Shirley
Thank you so much, Shirley. I’m really pleased you will get to see more of your family again soon too. Your Hot Cross Bun recipes are such a great resource, I will definitely share. I’m also intrigued by your Vinegar Pie. i can’t wait to check it out. Take care and have a lovely week!
Thanks for hosting, April! Easter blessings!
Easter Blessings to you and yours, Donna!
I’m so thankful restrictions are easing up! Last Sunday we went to church in person for the first time in a year–we had been using Zoom up til then. Honestly, it felt a little weird–maybe because it had been so long, maybe because of the masks. But it’s a step toward normalcy.
Oh my goodness, how wonderful to worship together, Barbara! That said, I can imagine it did feel strange. It’s going to be very challenging/interesting getting back to doing more things with more people.
Thanks for hosting the fun April and have a nice week.
Thank you, Julie. I hope you have a lovely week as well.
Thank you for hosting and for sharing your recipe, April. Pinned and shared!
Thank you so much for pinning, Maya! Have a lovely week!
So glad you will get to see your son and his partner soon. Things are looking up!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Thank you, Michelle! They really are! Have a wonderful week.
Hi April and Happy Spring! What a swell link party and thanks for hosting. Sharing “Tips to Update Passover with Plant-based Recipes and Ideas” (#110). Warm regards, Nancy Andres P.S. Blue is such a lovely color on you.
Happy Spring, Nancy, and thank you so much for the lovely compliment! Have a wonderful week!
Thank you so much for hosting. Have a wonderful week!
I hope your week is lovely too, Priyam!
Thanks so much for hosting April. I hope you are doing well. Stay safe xo
Thank you so much, Cindy. We are doing really well, thank you. Looking forward to seeing you at the Afternoon Tea Class! Stay safe xo
Hope you get to see your son and his partner this week! Your lockdowns have been intense. I know you’ll be happy indeed as things slowly open back up.
We saw them today, Lisa, and I can’t tell you the joy it brought me! The weather was lovely so we could all stay in the garden as we are obliged to. I’m so grateful for the time we had together. Take care and have a lovely week.
Looking very nice. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week. Always love posting here.
Thank you so much, Patrick. I always enjoy seeing your photographs! Take care and have a wonderful week.
Thank you for hosting each week. I really do enjoy visiting your blog and seeing what you have been working on. I created a new Facebook group named Homemade Everything. Please come by and check it out join the group and leave a post! I promise to share it on my FB Page!
Thank you so much, Marilyn. I will look forward to visiting your Facebook Group – thank you for inviting me!
30 lbs for 4 years is amazing!!
Thank you, Lauren!
That must feel so nice to be able to see other people again.
Oh my goodness, I cannot describe the joy of it, Joanne. I saw my son and his partner for the first time in over 5 months today. It made my heart soar! Take care and have a lovely week.
Have a blessed Easter weekend dear April! xoxo
Wishing you a blessed Easter weekend too dear Ramona! xoxo