Best of the best

Even though Christmas already belongs to the past, this doesn't necessarilly provide a reason for my holiday spirit to fall off. I've spent the entire week lounging around in my comfiest pajamas and actually, have no intention to change a thing about this "outfit" until the first day of 2012! So, before I'm ready to showcase the new combination du jour,  here's a small selection of my best (I hope!) fashion moments sported throughout the passing year...

Very Merry

In case you're already tired of all the Christmas recipes on this blog, here's my solemn promise I won't be posting any of them until the next holiday season. Twelve months to go, right?! And in the meantime, have yourself a merry little...cupcake! Sorry, but these Gingerbread Reindeers are seriously too cute to pass up!

Gingerbread Reindeers:

2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large bowl whisk together all of the wet ingredients.
In another bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, salt, spices and cranberries.
Using a large spoon, gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ones until everything's combined. Make sure not to overmix, or you wil end up with a batch of stone-hard muffins!
Fill each muffin cup full with the batter, then place in the preheated oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.

Orange & White Chocolate Frosting:

400g cream cheese
50g unsalted butter at room temperature
1 heaping tablespoon icing sugar (optional, if you like things on the sweeter side)
100g white chocolate, diced
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest

Start with melting the white chocolate in a double boiler. Allow it to cool slightly before using.
Beat the cream cheese, butter, orange zest, vanilla extract and sugar, just until there are no lumps visible. Add the melted chocolate and mix until fully incorporated.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF MY READERS!!!

Together forever

There's quite an enormous amount of clothes in my closet I will always be profoundly in love with. But if one day the world was supposed to be hit by an asteroid and I was given a chance to save one item only, I'd just grab this plaid shirt without the slightest hesitation! Even though it's already been two years since I made it mine, I can't even think of our ways parting any time soon...

P.S. The combination of red jacket and a fur collar rings a bell with you? Well, I was wearing this outfit while shopping for Christmas gifts... Santa Claus in the making, wasn't I?

Red Blazer - Principles/ Plaid Shirt & Booties - Zara/ Black Skinnies - Salt Works/ Stone Ring - Cubus

Winterized

I'm really hoping for the forthcoming Christmas to be perfectly white, but the long range weather forecast has once again left me quite disillusioned...The terrible truth is that I can't even recall the very last time we experienced a decent snowfall at the end of December! And since this particular holiday season just doesn't feel right without white spots and snowmen all around the neighbourhood, I've decided to take a stab at recreating some wintery bits in the comfort of my own kitchen...

Honey Gingerbread Cookies:

2 1/2 (about 600g) cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cloves

2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

250g margarine or butter

200g muscovado sugar

7 tablespoons honey

For the Royal Icing check out Martha Stewart's recipe here!

Sift together the flour, baking soda, spices, and set aside.

In a saucepan, over medium heat, combine muscovado sugar, butter (or margarine) and honey. Stir to make sure the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Let the mixture cool a bit, then gradually work in the dry ingredients to form a soft dough.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/3 centimetre thickness. Cut out desired shapes. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets and bake in the preheated oven until edges are slightly browned (about 10-15 minutes). Let cool completely before decorating. And then... just work your magic all over them!!!

Just can't wait to decorate my Christmas tree with these cuties!

On the run

Having turned 26 earlier this year, I find it really embarrassing to confess that there's still no driving licence to be found in my wallet. I am therefore condemned to the regular use of public transport, with all of the fun features it's usually packed with. Bad breathers, weird guys trying to pick me up, old ladies and unbelievable stories of their lives...I'm pretty sure you've been there too! To be honest, all these disturbers had barely ever got on my nerves, until this past week when I was meant to run multiple errands for five days in a row. Needless to say,  the entire experience was quite traumatic! Wearing some cozy outfits was actually the very least I could do for the sake of my comfort...

Cardigan & Animal Print Scarf - TkMaxx/ Denim Shirt - F&F/ Booties - Zara/ Leather Bag - Marta Ponti

Starting Early

With December being just around the corner nothing could possibly stop me from switching all of my baking into traditional Christmas mode. Over the following weeks I'm going to make sure the entire house smells of the most scrumptious ingredients, originally assigned to everyone's favourite holiday! Poppy seeds, nuts, candied fruits... you all have been missed for a long time!

Poppy Seed Brioche Croissants:

1. Start with the recipe for a simple Brioche Dough which can be made the day ahead and chilled in the fridge overnight.

2. Prior to baking your croissants prepare a poppy seed filling:

1 cup milk

1/2 cup sugar (plus additional 2 tablespoons)

1 cup poppy seeds (ground in a coffee grinder)
1/3 cup candied orange peel (chopped into small bits)

1/3 cup raisins

1/3 cup chopped walnuts or almonds

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 large egg
Heat all the ingredients (except for the egg) in a small saucepan and simmer until poppy seeds absorb the entire liquid. Remove from heat and let cool completely.

Beat the egg and 2 tablespoons of sugar until thick and light in colour, then fold it into the cooled poppy seed mixture.

3. To assemble the croissants: cut dough into half and set one piece aside. Roll the first piece into a 30cm diameter circle. Using a sharp knife cut it into eight equal wedges. Spread each of them with a heaping tablespoon of poppy seed filling. Starting from the base of the wedge, roll each one up and curve into a crescent shape. Place them onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and cover with a plastic wrap. Let rise for about 20 minutes. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly, then brush with the icing of choice. Some toasted hazelnuts sprinkled on top are an absolute MUST in this case!

Facts & Figures

Since there are already more than 400 readers stopping by here on regular basis, I guess the time couldn't be any better to share some random facts about the owner of this unusual style diary... Right, let me then begin with a short list of things I'm completely hooked on:

- Peanut Butter and banana toasties

- stroking just about every cat that comes across my way

- British fashion magazines

- post-workout sensation in my muscles

- 70's tv series about cops

- baking on Saturday evening

- clothes and accessories in GREY

Actually, the last entry works as a perfect explanation to the outfit pictured below...doesn't it?

P.S. Big welcome hug for all of my new followers! Thanks for being with me!

Leather Jacket & Sweater - TkMaxx/ Fur Collar - Massimo Dutti/ Jeans - Levi's 571 Slim Fit/ Leather Gloves - Thrifted

Fantasy Shopping: Faux Fur

If it feels like any drop of temperature puts you at risk of freezing to death, then it's time to invest in the ultimate solution! Grab yourself one of these furry items pictured below and rest assured that apart from giving you the most coveted sense of cosiness, they will also make you look perfectly stylish...

1. Melton Faux-Fur Collar Coat - French Connection/ 2. Handbag Keyring - Zara/ 3. Berry Short Faux Fur Jacket - Wallis/ 4. Cropped Grey Coat - M&S/ 5. Beanie - H&M/ 6. Faux Fur Doughnut Snood - Topshop/ 7. Faux Fur Front Coatigan - Miss Selfridge/ 8. Faux Fur-trimmed Caridgan - Primark/ 9. Retro Sheepsking Ankle Boots - Zara/ 10. Small Faux Fur Bag -  Warehouse/ 11. Faux Fur Waistcoat - River Island

Like mother, like daughter

The other day I went shopping with my mom and just as we were about to enter the changing room, the shop assistant asked me the least expected question: Would you like to go in with a FRIEND of yours? Ahem, ahem... It surely was a compliment to my fabulous-looking parent, but also a clear sign for me to invest in one of those overpriced face creams... Clearasil, I'm so over you...for now!

Red Jumper - Mango/ Tweed Shorts - H&M/ Animal Print Satchel - Zara/ Hat - TkMaxx

Big Chill

I've yet again come to realize that the only reason for my huge dislike of autumn months is an innate intolerance to lower temperatures. Now that the chilly weather has already spread all over this country, just an idea of setting my foot outside makes me quite feverish! In fact, if it wasn't for some cozy, fur-trimmed knitwear, I would probably end up snuggled under a pile of fluffy blankets until first days of Spring 2012...

Faux Fur-Trimmed Cardigan - Kenar/ Pussy Bow Blouse - New Yorker/ Clutch - Vintage/ Skinnies - Salt Works

Therapy in baking

It's been a tough week with some unexpected news creeping out from the every corner of my otherwise boring existence. You know, just one of those weeks when a fancy outfit is seriously the very last thing on your mind... Baking, however, is a whole different story! The combination of eggs, flour and sugar has never failed to work wonders for my frazzled nerves...

Cream Cheese Tart with Caramelised Figs:

For the almond crust:

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup blanched slivered almond

1/4 tsp salt

9 tblsp unsalted butter

1 large egg yolk

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Sift together the flour,salt and powdered sugar; using a pastry cutter, two knives or fingers, blend the flour mixture and butter together until it all becomes crumbly. Stir in the egg yolk and knead a few times, so that the dough forms a smooth ball. Press it over bottom and up sides of a lightly buttered and floured pie pan in an even layer. Chill the prepared shell for at least 30 minutes.

Once chilled sufficiently, prick shell all over with a fork, line with aluminium foil and fill with some pie weights. Bake in a preheated oven for about 25 minutes, then remove weights and bake additional 15 minutes, or until pastry becomes golden.

For the filling:

2 cups cream cheese

2 whole eggs

1 large egg yolk

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Place all the ingredients in bowl of your electric mixer and beat on medium speed until smooth. Pour filling into prepared tart shell and bake until slightly puffed along edges and just set in center. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.

For the caramelised figs:

4 tbsp water (or even some red wine!)

4 tbsp granulated sugar with a pinch of ground cinnamon

5-6 fresh figs, cut into wedges or slices

Place the water, sugar and sliced figs into a small pan over a medium heat and cook together for about five minutes, or until the figs are caramelised in the syrup. Arrange them on top of your tart and serve immediately!

P.S. You can use this recipe to prepare one full-size tart or four individual tartlets... Either way, it's super yummy!

Fantasy Shopping: Animal Print

For the first time in years these two words can be applied to so much more than just your old trusty leopard snood! Predators, carnivores, reptiles... dalmatians?! Well, it seems like some of the  top designers have drawn inspiration from the entire zoo... or even their very own households!

1. Black Printed Sleeve Dress - Dorothy Perkins

2. Dalmatian-print Cotton-drill skirt - Sonia By Sonia Rykiel

3. Animal Print Sweater - Mango

4. Tiger Print Scarf - Miss Selfridge

5. Madison Dalmatian Print Loafer - Topshop

6. Coltskin Messenger Bag - Zara

7. Black Snake Print Shirt - Wallis

8. Python-print Wool Dress - Chloé

9. Jungle Silk Top - Marc by Marc Jacobs

10. Limited Edition Leather Leopard Print Shopper - ASOS

11. Garnet Faux Snakeskin Court Shoes - Topshop

12. Tort Cat Eye Sunglasses - ASOS

13. Leather and Calf Hair Gloves - Valentino

Wishful thinking

The amazing Indian summer we're currently being blessed with makes everyone pray for it to stick around forever. I'm pretty sure that without the constant noise of walnuts crashing to the ground, the transistion into fall would have passed completely unnoticed. Owing to the endlessly blue skies and temperatures in the mid-twenties, I have even managed to increase the longevity of my fading tan! And now they're saying this idyll is meant to be shattered in a matter of days.... Oh come on Autumn! Don't you get it? You're not welcome here at all!

Hematite Bracelet - Thanks to KALEE/ Biker Jacket - Patrizia Pepe/ Dress - Carry/ Bag - Zara/

Yay for the second gift from KALEE! Isn't this bracelet utterly gorgeous?!

Bijoux, bijoux...

If I was to sum up my attitude towards jewellery in just one sentence, it would be the well-known rule of "less is more". I am of course thrilled by the latest idea of heavily layered chains and bangles whenever I see other girls giving it a successful try. But on most occassions, such a rock'n'roll-ish kind of styling doesn't seem to correspond with my rather understated outfits. What's more, all I ever need to feel perfectly accessorized is just a short pendant! And since this minimalistic approach keeps me on the constant hunt for simple, yet interesting designs, I was more than happy to receive a couple of gifts from KALEE, an amazing jewellery brand. Let me just point out that even if you're hardly ever lost for words, the undeniable beauty of Kalee creations is sure to leave you pretty speechless.... Trust me, I still am!

Tiger Eye Necklace - Thanks to KALEE/ Shirt & Pants - Zara/ Vest with leather pockets - Massimo Dutti/ Booties - Kazar

P.S. I already can't wait to rock the Hematite Bracelet with my next outfit!

The Ultimate Mood Boosters

At the start of almost every Autumn I find myself weeping over a loss of my beloved season. However, sooner or later, I'm usually lucky enough to come across a dessert recipe which is guaranteed to uplift even the most despairing soul. Take these scrumptious Cream-Filled Rolls for example... Wouldn't you feel instantly cheered up if given a chance to bite into a crisp and buttery flavored pastry packed with loads of fluffy whipped cream? Well, I thought so!

Cream-Filled Pastry Rolls
Pastry:
2 1/2 cups flour
200g butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla sugar
1 cup sour cream
Egg Wash:
1 large egg
1 tablespoon milk

To prepare the pastry, start by sifting all of the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Using a knife or a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles really coarse breadcrumbs. Add just enough sour cream (about 1 cup) and knead a couple of times so that the dough comes together. Gather it into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least two hours. After the dough has chilled sufficiently, remove it from the fridge and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry into a large rectangle, then cut into strips 2-3 centimetres wide and about 25 centimetres long. Wrap the dough strips around lightly buttered metal tubes. Brush one side of each prepared roll with the eggwash and sprinkle with some granulated sugar. Bake the rolls in a preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until they are golden in colour. Let them cool completely. If you happen to be crazy about chocolate, dip the ends of your baked pastries in some melted chocolate before filling them with whipped cream.

Filling:
2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Simply beat all the ingredients until stiff peaks form.

A ruffled mind

If anyone's asking whether this dark-coloured outfit is supposed to reflect my current state of mind, the answer is: yup! At this time of the year,  I just can't help becoming slightly nostalgic for all the good things that move on along with hot summer months... Do they always have to come to an end so soon?!

Black Skinnies - Salt Works/ Top - New Look/ Leather Bag - Marta Ponti/ Nail Polish - Rimmel - Red Obsession

When on staycation...

For the first time in years I've decided not to join my parents on their usual trip to the seaside, as it wouldn't really be appropriate to follow them at the age of twenty six... Instead, I'm  just trying to take full advantage of these last summer days with number of my favourite feel-good activities...

Updating my wardrobe with some new-season pieces...

Watching this baby "grow up" in my teeny-weeny garden...

Enjoying the very last bits of summer cooking... (recipe adapted from this one!)

Fantasy Shopping: Monochrome

As the old saying goes: "when in fashion doubt, wear something black and white..." Uhmm, yeah... I've just made it up in order to articulate my great love for the gorgeous colour combo. But clearly, I'm not the only one fond of it, since a variety of monochromatic pieces can be found in just about every fall/winter collection!

1. Black Peterpan Collar Shift Dress - River Island

2. Silk Drafters Blouse - Madewell

3. Stripe Peplum Top - Oasis

4. Black Tux Style Playsuit - Dorothy Perkins

5. Black Cream Stripe Midi Skirt - Miss Selfridge

6. Houndstooth Bag - ASOS

7. Robyn Suede & Patent-leather Wedges - Yves Saint Laurent

8. Leather Trim t-shirt - Mango

9. Swing Dress in Bouclé - ASOS

10. Tweed Shorts - Milly

11. Black Star Print Tee - TOPSHOP

12. Relaxed-fit Knit Cardigan - Mango

13. Nude-black Block Heel Shoes - Dorothy Perkins

14. Dress - H&M

Connect the dots

It's official! Polka dots have been acclaimed as the print of the new season, so despite all of my earlier concerns, I am now ready to rock it as much as possible! But please, let me know if you ever see me transforming into a Minnie Mouse look-alike...

Top - UK Vintage/ Pants &  Bag - Zara/ Belt - New Look/ Shoes - Topshop