Some Inspiration...

Over the weekend I need  to start prepping for Halloween. At the moment I'm loving the combination of  black and gold and these images are giving me serious inspiration for my decorating theme....

The black door is stunning with the gold walls!

A beautiful mirror!

This dresser would be fab with Halloween decorations!

Want these for my front porch!

Wise words!

I am hoping to add some of these elements to my halloween decor. Looks like I will  have to get  busy over the next few days. My front door might turn black by tonight!!  Have a great weekend everyone!

Images via Pinterest

Easy Dining...

Chilli Con Carne Peppers

Ingredients:

1 onion peeled  and diced.

4tbsps olive oil

1tbsp finely chopped medium-hot red chilli

4tbsp oregano

4 garlic cloves peeled and chopped

1 heaped tsp ground cumin

80g minced beef

150ml red wine

1 can chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp tomato puree

150 ml beef stock

1 can kidney beans drained and rinsed

6 red peppers halved

To make the chilli

Put onion on the pan and fry with the chilli, oregano and cumin until soft and glossy. Add the minced beef and fry until it changes colour. Add wine, tomatoes and tomatoe puree and season with salt. Simmer for an hour adding a splash of stock every now and again to prevent it drying out. Stir in beans and allow to rest.

Preheat the oven to 220. Halve peppers and arrange on a roasting dish. Drizzle with oil and roast for 30 minutes. Remove and fill with chilli mixture. Return to oven for another 15 mins. Serve hot .

 

These would be great  to serve at an autumn dinner party as an appetizer. I used mine as part of a main course served with a mexican style rice which complimented the flavours perfectly! The kids might prefer the chilli mixture on a bed of  plain rice. Happy cooking!!

Layer Up!

What used to spring to mind when I heard the word Poncho!

At the moment here in Ireland we are experiencing a bit of a late summer.The morning could start off quiet chilly and yet it could turn really warm by lunchtime. A great piece to have on standby in your closet this season is the humble poncho.They are great for layering and can be worn over dresses or slim fitting trousers alike. You can also accessorize them with wide belts for a more stylish look.Here are some looks that are inspiring me at the minute...

striped alpaca-blend Sonia Rykiel

Tomas Maier at net-a-porter

And  two from my high street favourites which are also lovely...

purple mohair  Zara

Cowl neck H&M

             The styling may have changed a little since it was first worn but they still remain as versatile and cosy as ever. A great addition to any fall closet!

Letting go...

Yesterday I decided to have a  major clearout  in the upstairs rooms. All was going well and I felt very
industrious bagging and boxing things that were no longer needed. My new motto is 'if you dont wear it get rid of it!' It's surprising how much better the closets look when you can actually see what clothes you have. Maybe there is some truth in the saying 'less is more'.

My problems began when it came to sorting out the toys. Some are easy to let go but others just tug at your heartstrings.The one in question being Sarahs sylvanian house. She dosen't really play with it but how could I just get rid of it?...worse still hide it away in the attic! So  I have found a nice spot for it at the top of my stairs and it will be staying here for the foreseeable future.The hubs thinks I have lost the plot!!  I am trying to convince him that it matches the decor...will have to wait and see!

" The art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on"- Havelock Ellis.
 Anyone else have the same problem when it comes to having a clearout?

Autumn Colours

On Saturday it was nice and sunny so I made a trip to the local garden centre to look for some new plants.They also have a fab homes and lifestyle section selling everything from kitchen utensils to dining furniture. There was a vast array of colour on display which made me so excited for planting for the new season ahead. Here are a few pictures that inspired me while looking around...
                                                              

Sitting pretty in the gazebo. My garden needs one!!

Love this chinese lantern  plant. Like mini pumpkins on a stalk!

                                                          

A burst of colour.

                                                               

Purple hues.

       

                                              

My love for white pottery goes on with these cute herb pots!

It was a lovely afternoon and now I must spend a little time prepping the garden to welcome fall.                                                    

70s Revisited

 

A 1970s revival has spread from the catwalks into homewares for Autumn/Winter and I am loving all the warm tones and vibrant patterns that are appearing on everything from wallpaper to bedding. Here are a few images currently inspiring me...

Images via Orla Kiely & Zara Home

So Cute

While flicking through the glossy magazine supplement in my Sunday newspaper, I came across this fab ad for Brown Thomas. The kids look adorable and I nearly had to run and get my Sarah a pair of those Gucci wellies. Didn't get much encouragement from hubs though ! In fact I think I put him right off his Sunday roast with the shock!! They are a tad expensive but so gorgeous. Designed for some serious puddle action!!

Image via Brown Thomas

Apple Traybake

This is a lovely apple-based recipe for those golden autumn afternoons

Ingredients: 

60g butter

60g caster sugar

2 pink lady eating apples

For the cake:

125g butter

125g caster sugar

125g self raising flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 large eggs

3 tablespoons milk

Method:

Heat oven to 190 degrees

Melt butter in a pan

Stir in sugar and cook until dissolved

Pour into a 7x11 inch traybake tin, tilting it so that the mixture spreads all over the base

Slice the apples into 8-10 rings

Arrange apples in base of tin

To make the cake:

Put all ingredients into a bowl and beat with a wooden spoon or electric mixer for 1-2 mins

Spread the mixture evenly over the apples

Bake in the oven for 45 mins until springy and firm to touch

Leave to cool for a few mins then turn it out apple side up and cut into squares.

Fab also served warm as a dessert with a good dollop of custard!!

Pennies From Heaven

I always seem to end up with a load of loose change in my wallet or worse still, floating around the end of my bag! Here are a few cute little purses I came across while browsing the web last night. No excuse for not having the right change for the parking meter now!!

                                                           

Images via Lulu Guinness                       

Lazy Saturday

                         

 Hi all! Having a bit of a lazy morning here. Just had a nice lie in and now I am going to tuck into this big fry up I made. Naughty I know but very nice all the same!!

Hope everybody has a fab day!

                                                                        

                                                      

Fab Friday

Another week over and it's time for chilling again (Thank God I might add!) I haven't any major plans for this weekend, which sometimes is a good thing as you can just take each day as it comes and see what happens. For tonight I plan to stock up on some movies, make a bucket load of popcorn and just relax with the family. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend doing whatever you have planned!

Easy Dining

This week in Ireland it is National Organic Week. It aims to raise consumer awareness of the benefits of organic produce and encourage people to eat locally produced organic food more regularly. Here is a great roasted vegetable salad using the best of organic produce.

Ingredients (serves 4)

1-2 Aubergines

8 unpeeled garlic cloves

2 red peppers halved and deseeded

3 tbsp. olive oil

2tbsp balsamic vinegar

4 scallions finely chopped

8-10 black olives

salt and pepper

mixed salad leaves

200g feta cheese.

Method

Slice aubergines and mix with 6 garlic cloves and 1 tbsp of olive oil. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20 mins. Grill peppers until blackened. Cover with a tea towel and leave to cool. Then remove the skins and cut into strips.Whisk the vinegar with remaining oil in a large bowl, peel and chop garlic and add to the bowl. Mix in the aubergine, peppers, scallions and olives.Season with salt and pepper. Arrange salad leaves on a platter and top with aubergine mixture. Sprinkle with feta cheese to serve.

 

Image via an Bord Bia.

For a filling lunch, just serve with some fresh crusty bread!!

Tory Burch At NYFW

Last night I watched Tory Burch present her first runway show in seven years at New York Fashion Week on the live stream on her website. Her collection looked amazing with a real nod to the 1920s era. Here are some of the gorgeous outfits I liked.

 And the lady of the moment, the very stylish Tory...

 

 

Images via style.com

School Run Style

As each new school term rolls around I always plan on being totally organized first thing in the morning and visualize myself leaving the house looking cool yet casual to do the school run.Sadly we are a few weeks in now and this is still not happening (I'm usually running late wearing the first piece of clothing that came to hand!)

Here are a few celebs that I must try to copy if I am to achieve the look I am after...

 

 Claudia Schiffer

Marcia Cross

Catherine Zeta Jones

 I might just have to set the alarm a few hours earlier to emerge looking like this!!!

Some Scenes From The Weekend

On Friday we kicked off the weekend with my son Shane attending a debs ball. He looked great on the night and here are a couple of photos (which I was very lucky to get btw!!) of himself and Claire.

Then on Saturday myself and the girlies headed into Dublin for a day of fashion and fun. First of all we went to a fashion show that showcased the latest trends from stores and boutiques around the city. We saw some really lovely looks for the upcoming season ahead.

The Girlies...

After the show we stopped off for lunch in "Cafe en Seine" which was gorgeous and then we ended the day with the girls getting their photos taken in Brown Thomas.The photos were super-imposed onto the cover of Vogue magazine and they were thrilled with their souvenirs!! It was a fun day out that we really enjoyed!