St Andrew's

A very happy St Andrew's Day 

to all my Scottish friends and, 

of course, 

to my darling boy on the feast of his patron saint!

Photo: source

Photo: source

Done!

Just a quick hello and another apology for the lack of posting - I had to finish an urgent translating job, and it's done! It was an exhausting philosophical text so I didn't really have the energy to write about outfits and crafting...

The pictures are a lovely reminder of this year's summer holiday - we went hiking to our mountains with a group of friends. The views were breathtaking, the company was beyond enjoyable, and I won't even mention the food!

Yay For Music!

St Cecilia

We're celebrating the feast of Saint Cecilia today, the patron saint of music. I love music. I sing both in the local parish choir and mixed choir and it's great fun. Particularly the last couple of months - my boy decided to start singing with us as well!

Our choir at this year's annual concert in June

We usually celebrate the day with a little do at the local parish hall, after we sing at the mass. And this year, to mark the day even more solemnly, my talented pianist had his first performance of the academic year. 

The Beginnings...

P.S.: Outfit of the day to follow!

Owls & Blossoms

I have fallen head over heels in love with these absolutely adorable brooches from Brora. I've been working on crafting my own versions. The owl is already hooting on my scarf, the tweedy corsage is in the making as we speak.

Pictures to follow, of course :)

Guest Post: Black Friday

An acquaintance of mine from 'Women's Personal Finance' has asked me to post this on her behalf. Well, there are some interesting facts here: 

Source: WomensPersonalFinance.net

What will you be doing this Friday?

Birdie Inspiration

Some absolutely gorgeous bird-inspired items from Etsy: 

AileenClarkeCrafts

careybrett

designedbyjane

annajoyce

warmYourself

Which bird would you pick?

Red & Green - And I'm Not Talking About Christmas

The last one in the 'Belated Outfits Series' posts. Wearable at this time of year as well, perhaps with a trenchcoat. I love the colours, I think the outfit looks lovely as a whole. If you don't mind my saying so. Anyway, a picture-heavy post to follow:

Outfit details:

- suede wedges - Deichmann 5th Avenue

- nude tights - local shop

- skirt - Boden

- top - Playlife

- corduroy blazer - Tom Tailor

- tan leather belt -  H&M

- scarf - souvenir from Venice

- leather tote - Boden

- angel earrings - this year's birthday gift from my children

- butterfly brooch - Dear Emma

Have a lovely weekend :)

Evening Out

October outfit, worn for an evening out with my husband. There was an event at the local community hall. I love love love my embroidered belt from Brora, purchased in their summer sale some time ago. I love the colours, the flowers, the fact that it spices up any outfit... The list is endless. Love.

Outfit details:

- shoes - local brand (and really old)

- tights - local shop

- dress - local boutique

- cardi - Boden

- silk embroidered belt - Brora

- silk beaded clutch - Benetton

- turquoise beads - bead shop in the capital

- silver forget-me-not necklace - Etsy (silverpebble)

- charm bracelet - birthday gift

My last 'belated outfit' tomorrow!

A Little Bird Told Me...

... that this is the third in the series of my 'Belated Outfits' posts. I wore this outfit some time in September, but on a warm day, it could easily pass for a November outfit as well. It features some of my absolute favourites - skinny jeans & tunic top, green scarf, brogues, a charming girl pendant, and last but not least, my beloved blue tit pin.

Outfit details:

- leather brogues - Zara

- skinny jeans - local boutique

- tunic top - Boden

- cardi - Boden

- scarf - souvenir from our Venice trip

- blue tit pin - Dear Emma (thank you so much, Cathy!)

- pendant - birthday gift from my brother & his family

- wooden bangle - local shop

Another 'Belated Outfit' post to follow!

Blossoms In September

As promised, part two of the 'Belated Outfits Series'. Worn on the first day of school. My favourite skirt from this past summer. The mother-of-pearl pendant necklace was a birthday present from good friends - who know exactly what I like!

Me and my girl :)

Outfit details:

- sandals - Boden

- tights - local shop

- skirt - Joules

- top - Laura Ashley

- jean jacket - Urko (local brand)

- tan leather bag - Benetton

- neclace - gift

- bracelet - gift

My little girl is wearing:

- dress, tights, socks - local shops

- ballerina flats - Next

To be continued...

Looking Back

So sorry about this. I've just found these on my camera and I think the outfit is too pretty to waste. As a matter of fact, I've found several outfits from the Summer/Autumn season... And because I haven't posted an outfit for a rather long time, I've decided to make it a chain of 'belated outfit' posts. Hope you don't mind :)

On a lovely and warm summer day (back in August, I believe) I was wearing:

- tan leather sandals - local boutique

- skirt - Brora (Liberty print, from their spring sale)

- T-shirt - local boutique

- tan leather belt - H&M

- tan leather bag - Benetton (old!)

I came across this skirt on Brora's website and was instantly attracted to it as it was described as a 'tracksuit in a skirt' - it really is! The material is incredibly soft and the skirt has an elastic waistband. The best part was that it was reduced to something like fifteen pounds! I wore it a lot this past summer and the fabric is thick enough for the skirt to be worn with opaque tights in cooler months. Looks rather good with leather boots as well, actually... More on this in a later post!

Calendar Cakes Part Two

OK, it's July, right? Making Frosted Fruit Cake! This one was dead-easy to make and incredibly yummy as well. An ordinary 'light and airy sponge cake' with mixed berries covered in sugar on top. So refreshing.

A totally and completely delicious Summer Shortcake for August. Oh my, this was basically a giant shortbread biscuit with strawberries and cream. Still thinking about it...

I made a tasty & juicy Plum Cake (something along the lines of this recipe) in September - just in time for my little girl's birthday (this was only a side cake, of course, in case we ran out of the big three-tiered 'proper' birthday' cake - chocolate, please...; we didn't).

The picture does not really do it justice - the cake was really good but it did not look so, unfortunately. The plums were supposed to be showing through but they all sank into the batter...

The October recipe featured Halloween Muffins - made with pumpkin flesh from the Jack-o-Lanterns, with ginger frosting and marshmallow & sugarpaste 'Halloween' decorations (think little ghosts and stars and skulls - I didn't actually make the decorations because I couldn't get any marshmallows or sugarpaste on short notice :( ). I was again clever enough not to take any pictures before they were consumed. I was told they were absolutely delicious...

Two more to go until the end of the year! Dundee Cake in November and a Festive Yule Log (covered in chocolate...) in December. Will keep you posted!

Calendar Cakes Part One

Here's the story: back in January, I got, among other lovely things, a funny old present for my 40th birthday. A friend of mine gave me a calendar featuring a recipe for a 'fabulous seasonal treat' each month. And what's more, she accompanied the present with a smart remark: "I hope you make these puddings each month and have your friends taste them for you" :) What a nice challenge, don't you think? Well, I thought, consider it done.

The recipes in the calendar were (mostly) typical British desserts and I had already made some of them before I got this sweet calendar. The year started with the (not entirely British...) Black Forest Cherry Cake, which I made for the birthday party for my friends. It was absolutely delicious. You'll have to take my word for it. 

Photo: source

February featured vanilla-flavoured Valentine cupcakes. Yummy!

Springtime Cake, a classic sponge cake, decorated with flowers, was our March dessert.

In April I made not one, but two Simnel Cakes - I make one traditionally every Easter (the one on the photo below is the Easter one, not the 'a treat for friends' one).

A totally delicious One Mix Chocolate Sponge in May - ridiculously easy to make and oh-so yummy!

 Photo: source

Six months into the project, I finally activate my blogging mind and start taking my own photos: time for the very well-received Lavender Cake. Goodness me, it was different, but so so good.

To be continued...