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!)