Inspiration

Bring a Smile to Your Beloved with Laura Stoddart's Artistic Creations
Everyone loves to receive a thoughtful and unique gift and what better way to show your love and appreciation than with a piece of beautiful art?
What makes it even more special is giving your loved ones unique artistic stationery designed by award-winning British illustrator Laura Stoddart. Launched in 2016, her range of beautiful stationery and homeware features her artistic designs that have won many awards including both the Social Stationery and the Judges Choice at The London Stationery Awards. She also worked with a broad range of clients, from Gardens Illustrated and Crabtree & Evelyn to Portmeirion and UNICEF, in all areas of design and illustration.

Eco-Friendly Sipping: The Surprising Benefits of Using Ceramic Mugs for Your Morning Brew
As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, many people are making changes to their daily routines to reduce waste and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. One small change that can have a big impact is switching from disposable coffee cups to ceramic mugs. Not only does this reduce waste, but it also offers several surprising environmental and health benefits.
Sustainability reduces the use of plastic, paper, and other non-renewable resources thereby encouraging the use of alternative reusable products. So the next time you take a sip at your favourite morning brew, think about how you can help save the environment and keep yourself healthy. At the end of the day, choosing the right drinkware matters.
Why Ceramic Mugs?
Drinking a hot cup of coffee in the morning is a routine for most people but the type of cup used can have a significant impact on the environment and your health. Why not make your daily treat into something worthwhile? It's time to ditch disposable cups in favour of ceramic mugs.
Save the Environment
The use of disposable coffee cups generates a significant amount of waste. As these cups are not biodegradable and often end up in landfills, they usually take hundreds of years to decompose. By using ceramic mugs, you are helping reduce waste and make a positive impact on the environment. In addition to reducing waste, using ceramic mugs also decreases the use of disposable coffee cups thereby minimising the manufacturing demand for producing them.
Health Benefits
Many disposable coffee cups are lined with plastic, which can contain harmful chemicals that can leach into the coffee when hot liquids are poured in. By using a ceramic mug, you can avoid exposure to these harmful chemicals and improve your health.
In addition to being a healthier choice, using a ceramic mug also improves the taste of coffee. The lack of plastic lining in ceramic mugs does not affect the taste of the coffee, ensuring that drinkers enjoy the full and rich caffeine flavour.
Making Coffee Drinking Great Again
If you think that having your morning cuppa is dull and boring on disposable cups at Starbucks then you may want to embrace a coffee mug once again. Take the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the whole process of making and drinking coffee. The act of pouring hot water into a mug, adding coffee, and savouring the aroma can be a mindful and self-care routine. The moment of peace and quiet can improve overall well-being and start the day off on the right foot.
Making Your Choice
Choosing the right mug for your morning brew can enhance your coffee-drinking experience and make it even more enjoyable. Here are the things you may want to consider and the recommended mugs you may want to have:-
Consider the size of your morning coffee and choose a mug that holds the right amount.
Recommended Item:
Broste Nordic Coal Espresso Mug
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Choose ceramic as it is known for its durability, insulation properties, and lack of harmful chemicals.
Recommended Item:
Broste Eli Mug w/ Handle Caramel Brown
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The design of the mug can also play a role in your enjoyment of your morning coffee. Look for a mug with a design that appeals to you, whether it's a simple solid colour or a more elaborate pattern. You can also have a handle-less mug too!
Recommended Item:
Broste Nordic Sand Espresso Mug
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Make sure the mug feels comfortable in your hand. Consider the size, shape, and weight of the mug when making your decision.
Recommended Item:
Ned Collections Lester Retro Mug
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If you prefer your coffee to stay hot, look for a mug with good insulation properties. A well-insulated mug will keep your coffee hot for longer, allowing you to savour your morning brew at your leisure.
Recommended Item:
Broste Eli Mug No Handle Soft Blue
Final Thoughts
Using ceramic mugs for your morning coffee has never been so great now that more people are aware that it's possible to reduce waste and improve one's personal health and well-being. It may be a simple switch but it creates a significant change. It’s time to say goodbye to disposable coffee cups and embrace the eco-friendly and sustainable choice of using ceramic mugs. Every small change counts and together, we can make a positive impact on the environment.
Alora House is your one-stop shop for an affordable, top-notch range of specially-curated housewares and gift items from big-name brands like Avanti, Bakemaster, Dreamticket, Victorinox, and Laura Stoddart.
Its niche hotel-quality items will help you transform your property into an Airbnb-worthy rental. Check out the latest products in their collection: www.alorahouse.co.nz/collections.

Discover the Soothing Power of Aromatherapy: The Benefits of Using New Zealand-Made Candles
Have you ever wanted to try aromatherapy?
Well, it’s not just about scented candles, specialty soaps, and fragrant oils from your favourite spa. More importantly, it’s not just a typical relaxing, pampering session, it’s a holistic approach to wellness that uses natural fragrances to enhance your physical and emotional health. The practice involves the inhalation or topical application of essential oils through various methods such as massages, baths, diffusers, and candles. Extracted from plants, flowers, and other natural sources, these products are used to create calming and therapeutic effects on your mind and body.

Complete Kitchen Must-Haves: A Guide to Essential Cooking Wares for Every Home Cook
As a home cook, having the right kitchen tools and equipment can make all the difference when it comes to creating delicious and satisfying meals. Having a well-equipped kitchen can help you prepare food more efficiently and make cooking a more enjoyable experience. As much as we all wanted to become Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay or the ever-lovable Jamie Oliver, proper kitchen management and food preparation are as important as mastering our cooking skills. You need to have your essential kitchen wares at your disposal to make your cooking experience as pleasant and manageable as possible.
New Year’s Resolutions for a New Home Interior Design
Every year, most of us consider making some changes in our lives especially when it comes to making personal resolutions. Of the many changes we intend to make, many often involve making certain adjustments to our home’s interior design. It may be a simple way of dusting the cobwebs of last year to a major overhaul of your space. This time, we are not just motivated by the usual goals but with a more original twist.
Here are some of the unique interior design trends that you can apply to your home in 2023

Finding the Best Houseware Deals and Discounts this Summer
Most brands and homeware retailers follow the seasons when it comes to doing deals and discounts. Normally, they start dropping the prices of their old stocks when they transition to a new seasonal collection. That means, summer is the great time to hunt for the most affordable housewares in the market. After all, this season won’t be complete without a summer sale or two!
So the question is, how do you find the best deals? What do you specifically look for so you can save as much money as you possibly can?