Monday, July 25, 2011

Blackberry & Apple Puff Pie

It couldn't be simpler or faster...
there was one phone call to my Mum...but there usually is...

Blackberry & Apple Puff Pie

core and cut two apples 
place into pan with some water and approx 1 tbsp sugar
cook until the apple starts to soften
add blackcurrants (they don't take too long to soften)


(I couldn't be bothered to make the crumble so this is how it ended up a puff pie)

use a round premade puff pastry.
lay over the baking dish and gently push into the dish
add the apple and blackcurrant filling
fold over the remaining pastry
place in the oven
approx 180° for 15-20 mins

serve hot with custard.
or cold with cream
or icecream
or whatever you fancy!

YUM!

Waiting.

Buying flowers on the way to work, one of my pleasures walking to the bus stop.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Lyle Lovett




He had to wait a month but finally Michael could have his final birthday present...lyle lovett and his acoustic band, we knew Lyle would good, he's a truly talented star with a stage presence that makes me want to be friends and go hang out with him at his ranch in Texas! It was an amazingly inspiring performance with such talented musicians luke bulla and keith sewell The relationship and respect they have for each other oozing off the stage. Michael summed it up with 'you can not and go and see something like that and your life remains the same, or you can be fortunate to go and something changes' There's still so much music out there to discover and enjoy.

Monday, July 18, 2011

falcon enamelware

As most of you know I'm obsessesd with kitchenware...and the newly branded Falcon Enamelware is looking tempting and is deliciously branded, check out their website for more taste bud enticing images...



Pitched

Two things firstly this amazing book by Gregory L. Blackstock - I love it.
Secondly, I'm ready to go camping and can't wait to get our new tent!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Joshua Tree National Park



Chai tea, bagels and such like...

I'm exhausted and not quite with it yet, jet lag is the pits, I've just got back from a fab work trip, and wanted to share some photos from the trip.
Stopping off in Vancouver, Seattle, LA & finally a wee bit of R&R in Palm Springs.
Too much to see and do...and now my head is swimming with inspiration and new ideas. Amazingly I  also had time to hang out with friends and catch up everyones adventures.

Vancouver
A first for me and our first stop
a couple musts for any shopping trip


We stayed at moda hotel really central within easy walking distance to Gastown and the waterfront area.


Eli
the found and the freed (pop up shop)
Chai tea latte

We then took the 99 to the US border passed through immigration and got on Route 5.
Stopped off in the adorable wee little town Edison just off the Chuckanut Drive before heading into Seattle...

Edison
Edison

We had so little time to explore the city, but what we did find we loved, it definitely deserve more time than we gave it.



The Fremont district with the cutest shops and probably one of the best womenswear shops I've ever shopped in with absolutely lovely staff to top it off.
Some pennies were spent in here...
 We then made our way over to Ballard and the super cute old town...
vegetarian thai was for lunch at

blackbird fieldhouse
jhanjay thai

A quick flight down to LA, we hit the usual spots for shopping, with Sunday morning spent at the Rosebowl, I picked up some great finds for YS store, they'll be posted soon.
BBQ with friends on Sunday night.

Then for 1 night only
it was ACE!!


cocktails a-go-go

the month of June was definitely a Cocktail month...
alas due to trying to lose a few lbs for our wedding we're now on a cocktail free couple of months,
it was good whilst it lasted!

this was my version of the Southside Cocktail

Gin (obviously)
Muddled Cucumber
Sode Water
Mint
& Lime Juice

Monday, July 4, 2011

weekend

We've had a fab weekend preparing stuff for our wedding 3 months this weekend Argh!!!! Still SO much to do, but this weekend we made great strides forward and had a great time in the process...
 36m of mini bunting

 even Michael got creative with painting.
getting very excited now!

Friday, July 1, 2011

9 day tour of Italy...

Tuscany
shopping in Lucca

....Moody and sultry are not two words you'd usually use to describe the Amalfi.
ITALIA!
Assisi
Capri
 Liguria

Napoli

 I was so keen to see some of Naples, a little apprehensive too...

 but everyone was super friendly and so welcoming especially when I was taking photos of their amazing shop signs...definitely a part of the city I want to explore and photograph some more...

 unfortunately time was really tight...but lots to save for next time..