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...

Cats & Dogs

This photo is a reminder of the lovely summery weather we had - a sure thing of the past for 2012! November has started with torrential rains, many parts of our little country have been affected; luckily, the south, where we live, has been spared so far. My heart goes out to all those people whose homes have been badly damaged in the last couple of days.

Amidst all this rain the sun actually managed to take a short peek at our little land, just after lunch today. I grabbed the opportunity and took a brisk walk round my favourite neighbourhood - close to where I took the picture of this tree several years ago. I'm grateful for my home  - and saying a prayer for every person who's lost it in the past week.

P.S.: Thank you for all your warm welcome-back comments, my dear friends. It's good to be missed :)

A Month...

...that's how long I've been absent, my dear blogging friends. Life taking over, as usual. Some health issues in the family which were rather time-consuming. I'm still here, though, and I've been following your blogs, adding an odd comment or two.

First of all, I must tell you that I'm the lucky winner of Franca's giveaway! The umbrella embroidery arrived last Saturday and it's beyond sweet. Thank you so much, Franca!

I hope to be able to blog more frequently in November, there are many things on my mind (and in my camera), so here's to another month (last but one in 2012, yikes!)...

I'll give you a hint what else has made me really happy in the last month (apart from reading your blogs, of course) - a brand new leather handbag, hand-made in Britain (and you know what this means to me, right?)!!! Here's the beauty, I've borrowed the images from its Etsy seller:

Isn't it pretty, with the lining and all?

Thank you for your patience. Have a lovely week!

Franca's Giveaway, Yay!

Read all about it at Oranges&Apples!