Outlet shopping....

Hi All!

Hope your weekend is good. Friday as I was heading to collect my mum off the train I took a detour into Kildare village for a little outlet shopping,  It was nice and quiet and a lovely morning for strolling around the huge selection of boutiques.

 I've made a conscious decision to add some quality pieces to my A/W wardrobe this year and trying to refrain from  impulse buys which I usually cast aside after a few wears! A favourite shop of mine here is DKNY and I am usually drawn in by the fabulous bags on offer but I averted my eyes  and headed straight to the clothing section instead.

After a look around I decided on a print shirt and basic black knit cardigan to start with. Both are good quality staples to have and may be styled in numerous ways . I can switch them up with belts, jeans, scarves and trousers. Happy days:)

For any one interested in jeans and able to travel there, French Connection  had a great selection  at amazing prices. My daughter bought a fabulous pair of dark wash skinnies! I still haven't found any suitable boots so I am heading to Dublin in the morning with my mum. She wants a new coat and I need to try on some boots. Huge need for them at this stage in my wardrobe!

Wishing you all a good week:)

Anne xx

Recipe: Autumn minestrone soup ....

I don't know about any one else but on cold rainy days there is only one thing for me and that's a bowl of nourishing hot soup for lunch. This is one I adapted from a recipe  found here and I can tell you there is both eating and drinking in it! Perfect for those after school/college hungry mouths!!

1 red onion chopped

4 tbsp olive oil

1 stick celery diced
2 carrots sliced
300g butternut squash cut into cubes

1 litre chicken stock

1 clove of garlic

salt and pepper

35g pasta shapes

handful of frozen spinach or kale

parsley chopped

grated parmesan to serve

Directions...

Heat the olive oil on a heavy based pan and add the celery , carrots and squash . Saute for around 5 mins. Add the garlic, then pour on the chicken stock . Stir in the tomato paste and bring to the boil.

Simmer until the pasta is al dente. Add, in the spinach/kale and cook for a further 4 mins. Add parsley and stir.

To serve scatter with sprinkle of Parmesan.

All ready for some Autumn comfort eating!

Have a lovely day:)

Anne xx

The luxury of Leather....

For me there is nothing nicer than the smell and look of real leather! I love that rich aroma and the feel of soft material against the skin! Of course a like everyone else it is not always possible to afford the real Mc coy but if money were no object this morning these beauties would be on my shopping list...

Skirt/DVF    Coat/Malene Birger    Bag/Michael Kors

Personally if I were to purchase anything with faux leather
 I think it would have to be something with the minimum amount on it such as these ....

Black top with faux leather sleeves Zara

Black trousers with side faux leather panel Cos

For the moment I have two leather jackets which will see me through for another bit  at least until the real heavy coat weather arrives....although it has to be said , a leather jacket is a great investment buy for any time of the year!

Have a good day:)

Anne xx

Autumn Hues....

What a fabulous weekend it was .Just the type of weather I love  looking at  the leaves turning  and a crisp coolness in the air! Sarah got her hair cut which took up the best part of Saturday morning as she has quite a lot of it to wash and blowdry! Needless to say she is delighted with her new layered styling  (They sure know what they like so young nowadays!) On the plus side she has taken a keen interest in baking goodies

  This week she switched from brownies to rocky roads! They were yummy I must say:). Thie weekend out I put an outfit together with some Autumnal tones in mind. It was a bit of a change for me from my usual jeans and a chance to wear a favourite  knit of mine in the on- trend burgundy colour.

Hope you all have a lovely week! Lots of cleaning going on here...my mother is arriving and staying with us for a few weeks:)

Anne xx

Hello Friday....

Hope you all had a good week. I really can't believe how fast it has gone and I don't seem to have got much done... well besides checking out some fabulous new A/W boots that is Last night I landed on the Clark's shoe site and was pleasantly surprised at the gorgeous styles and reasonable pricing also!

Dark tan Lea casual boot...

Karob slice  Alaska black leather...

Kamile Alaska animal print

These are just a few that have caught my attention, if anyone wants to see more the Clark's website is well worth a look! I am going to town later to check out what range our local shoes stores are stocking! I like to try on and see them in the hand if possible. I shall report back if I purchase anything of note!

Denim Jacket/Mexx    Jeans/Selected Femme  Top/H&M   Boots /Dunnes   Bag/Vintage    Scarf/New Look

This morning I'm wearing my new burgundy jeans by Selected femme and I love them! They are really comfortable and how I wish I had those fab leopard ankle boots above to go with them:)

Hope you all have a lovely weekend:)

Anne xx

Recipe: Mixed Fruit and Berry Tart ...

I love this time of year for baking when everything seems to take on a more rustic element! I'm thinking homemade tarts, bowls of steaming soup served with hunks of freshly cut baguette! Today I'm posting an easy pie recipe I made to use up some fruit and berries I had sitting around.

Ingredients...

1 and 1/2 sheets puff pastry

4 eating apples/mixed berries
2oz of brown sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

grated rind and juice of lemon

1 oz butter

3 tbs honey

Directions...

Lightly grease an oblong tart tin. Roll out the sheets of pastry and line tin. It dosen't have to be perfect as I think this adds to the rustic element! 

In a bowl slice the apples and combine with the sugar and cinnamon. Add the mixed berries,I used sliced strawberries and blueberries, lemon rind and juice and stir it all together.

Fill the pastry case with the fruit mixture and cook in a hot 180 oven for 40 mins until the apples are soft.

Heat the honey for a minute and glaze the fruit with it before cutting into slices..

Serve with a good dollop of cream or vanilla ice cream.

Now for all the busy mums out there who never have time to bake homemade tarts or pies , I think you should always have this chilled puff pastry and an oblong tart tin on standby!

 Trust me you will never be stuck for baking a special treat or savoury dinner option again! They really are the easiest recipes of all to try. Go here for a previous savoury tart I made using the same pastry and tin.

Have a good day!
Anne xx

A few Random Bits....

Happy Wednesday...  how come it's halfway through the week again already??  I'm delighted that mine are all settled back to school and college, and more importantly they are all happy and healthy thank god ! This is just a little random post on a few bits I'm loving right now! 

First up I came across this gorgeous Irish candle Company, well I  have to feed my addiction now and then:) Anytime I spy a new candle brand I'm all over it straight away .This packaging and scent is really floating my boat right now.

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Secondly to go with the lighting of numerous candles on a dark evening, where would we be without a few well earned snacks and treats. Chocolate pretzels anyone? I will be putting a few packets of these in the shopping trolley tout suite!

Now I do have a selection of bags for A/W already but I quite fancy a new black one. I have my eye on some gorgeous ones in Brown Thomas but for good quality and everyday use I don't think you could beat this Zara number...

Zipped bucket bag  Zara

Lastly with all the hoo ha surrounding high top trainers, I unearthed my version from the depths of my wardrobe yesterday! Hubs even enquired had I bought new shoes .. .Well they looked brand new as they only saw the light of day a few times when first purchased : ) 

These are by Geox and for someone trying to steer clear of looking like mutton dressed as lamb, I think

  they will do just fine with my black straight jeans or cargo trousers for running around the town! 

Hope you are all having a good week:)

Anne xx

Decor Inspiration: Grasscloth wallpaper....

As always with a new season, I think everyone has designs on a little redecorating or shake up in the home.... no matter how small :) Whilst looking through some designs myself  I came across the use of this grasscloth wallpaper in the home and I think it would be the perfect rustic and cosy addition for A/W styling.

Fabulous Dining space....

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Hall entry feature wall....

Home work Space....

Top and last images via

Has anyone any nice decorating projects on the go at the minute? I finished painting a feature wall in our bedroom yesterday, so hopefully when it is fully done I can reveal a few elements of the final look!

If anyone is doing a kitchen makeover take a look here.  One of my first blogging friends Jill has just completed a fantastic job on hers!! I am very jealous and still trying to persuade my OH to paint our cabinets!!

Anne xx

Weekend recap....

Happy Monday!

Hope you all had a great weekend :)

 It was a normal relaxed one in this house ,which as always involved  lots of cooking and food . Sarah baked us some yummy brownies (with just a little help from mum! ) Saturday morning I went down town to do a few bits and a friend of my son's was showing some of his fabulous work at an art display, so I dropped by to view it :)

Blazer H&M    Jeans/Dunnes  Top/Zara   Boots/Dunnes    Scarf/Oasis    bag/DKNY

I wanted a casual look so out came my H&M blazer ... a very handy piece for this time of year. I added a bright scarf and cross body bag for an easy weekend style!

Hope you all have a good week. I now have two boys starting back in college today, one girlie at work and another at school:)

 The house will be very quiet this morning :)

See you all soon!

Anne xx

Weekend Time ....

Happy Friday All:)

Hope everyone had a good week. I normally do a food post during the week, but I had a better offer other than cooking yesterday, so off I went galavanting around the town for  a couple of hours !! Today I 'm sharing a recipe for these gorgeous cheesy Sausage Empanadas. I came across it as a promotion for the Easy Food magazine and it sounded very tempting as a lunch option!

Ingredients..

250g sausages

150g cheddar grated

2 spring onions chopped

handful of fresh thyme chopped

2 sheets frozen puff pastry thawed

1 egg beaten for glazing

1 tsp chilli powder

salsa or dip of choice to serve

Directions...

Preheat the oven to 180c

Remove the sausages from casing and mix in a bowl with the diced spring onions. Fry on a pan until cooked through. Drain fat and mix in a bowl with the grated cheese and thyme. Roll out the puff pastry on a board and cut each sheet into 30cm squares (mine were very roughly measured and some even ended up as rolls!) Place a spoonful of the mixture into the middle of each ,brush the edges with your egg and fold over the pastry into a triangle.

 Press the edges together with a fork to seal.

Transfer to a baking sheet and bake for 20 mins until puffed and golden brown...

Serve warm with salad and dips of choice! Have to say they went down very well with my gang here ... a great standby for after school or college snacks!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend:) I 'm not going anywhere in particular myself, but I'm sure I will find a lot of bits to do around here to keep me busy!

Anne xx

Coffee morning and lunch outfit....

Today I was meeting friends for coffee and as my daughter was also off work, we decided to meet up later for a little shopping and lunch. As I no longer do a school run it is great to have the opportunity at least twice a week of dressing up (otherwise it would be easy to get really lazy about the whole thing!) Anyhow I wore a fairly casual outfit this morning which took me from coffee time to lunch ,with a little shopping added in too :)

Khaki jacket/Blarney Woollen Mills   Top/Zara    Jeggings/NVY(Local boutique)    Scarf/New Look

Ankle boots/Dunnes   Bag/DKNY 

Whilst shopping I picked up a gorgeous pair of wine jeans in a local boutique!  I like to support local business when I can and most of the shops are now stocking quality clothes at great prices:) These jeans are by Selected Femme and a fabulous fit!

Hope you all have a good day:)

Anne xx

Jumper Weather...

Today had a distinct Autumnal air about it and for the first time in a couple of weeks I felt that heavier layers were called for! Up to now a t- shirt with light cardi would suffice, unless of course on certain days due to torrential downpours, a long mac and large brolly were also called for!

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 The styling shown above is actually a favourite look of mine, a simple jumper worn over jeans ... perhaps adding a scarf to finish and you're good to go! Here's a little round up of a few of my favourite jumpers on offer at the moment...

1/J Crew    2/Rag-bone.Com     3/H&M    4/Day Birger Et Mikkelsen     5/Topshop

My personal favourite here is the Rag & bone jumper! It would look fabulous with dark skinny jeans and beige suede ankle booties for a casual day look :)

Weekend Style and some Shoe Love...

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a lovely weekend :)

 Saturday was the best day here, with clear blue skies and the sun shone all afternoon! By late evening time it had got much cooler, so to add a little coverage for a night out I wore my cropped black blazer. I think blazers are a great wardrobe standby as they can really dress up an otherwise simple outfit of vest top and casual pants.

We just headed to our local bar to listen to a band and enjoy a few drinks ....it turned out to be a fabulous night:)

Cropped Blazer/H&M  Pants/Penneys  Vest/Zara  Shoes/Old (local Boutique)
Clutch/Coast

Now I must do a bit of footwear shopping over the next few weeks to get ready for Winter! These lovely Dune leopard beauties have caught my eye. I think they would look equally great with jeans or skirts!!

 My daughter sent me this photo of these  Rockport  black boots whilst working at a fashion event on Saturday! I may see if they are suitable for taking in at the sides, as I have very skinny calves and find it very hard to buy long boots that fit well! I never found a pair last year that suited and ended up buying ankle boots instead. I want to wear more dresses this season and I think long boots look lovely with certain styles... especially jersey wrap day dresses or tunics:)

I hope you all have a great week :)
Anne xx

Happy Weekend...

Hello Everyone!

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Friday time again and what a lovely week it has been! This warm weather is set to continue for the weekend so I can see a lazy one in store for me! At first I didn't think it would last long but it got so nice there was nothing else to do but relax and enjoy it:) I have had some lovely moments chilling in the garden with my magazines and morning coffee. I have also enjoyed cutting the last of my flowers. I did crank the oven up one morning before it got too warm and baked some blueberry scones .

I had also put away a lot of summer clothes before this hot spell was forecast, so I was delighted to acquire a pair of cropped jeans from my eldest daughter who no longer wanted them! (benefits of having a daughter the same size as you!!) They actually fit great and I'm going mad I didn't have them sooner in the season :)

I hope you all have a lovely weekend! We are looking forward to going out for a few drinks tomorrow night, something we haven't done for a while. 

See you all soon:)

Anne xx

Autumn Decor....

Morning all :) 

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With the schools back in action and a little more time to myself  I've decided to spend part of this week sprucing up the house before swapping over to some Autumn decor. I really love this time of year. I always look forward to buying some new floral arrangements, changing out the cushions, throws etc and of course with darker evenings drawing near, it's a great excuse to add to my lovely candle collection :)

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As per usual with the kids back in school, the sun has decided to make a late appearance for a bit! I had managed to do a little closet changeover last week, so my real Summery pieces are not going to be pulled out again ... heatwave or not!!

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Hope you all enjoyed a little Autumnal inspiration :)
 Have a lovely day!

Anne xx

Style Inspiration: Berry Hues ....

One of the hottest trends for A/W 12 is lovely jewel tones, especially the rich burgundy and berry hues. I think it's a fabulous alternative to your basic black and brown and set to become an instant hit this season.

Shoes/L.K. Bennett   Bag/Balenciaga   Ring/Stella And Dot    Dress/Warehouse  

 Scarf/ Alexander McQueen   Ankle boots/DVF

Mix and match these rich colours with some of your favourite A/W basics for an instant wardrobe update! That Balenciaga bag is amazing but here is an equally gorgeous more affordable option from Oasis

Hope you all have a good week:)

Anne xx