France meets England – New Year’s eve food battle!

Having a multicultural house is fun! You can compare, experiment with food and agree to disagree!

Today is New Year’s eve which means party time! Or at least another evening of gorgeous food. As I found that going out on New Year’s eve is an anticlimax,  a.k.a. crowded restaurants, overpriced and boring menus, we decided to have friends around. This is so much more relaxed as there is no pressure, you’re not pushed by waiters who are eager to bring you your next course, you can drink good wines, make the aperitif last longer, and most importantly go to be when you feel like it! I take this opportunity to apologise to a dear friend of mine as I was a party pooper a few weeks back and went to bed (originally for a quick nap) quite early. I will try my best to make it to midnight tonight!

Anyhow,  I am digressing.  Tonight will be a food show! Without giving too much away, there will be a duo of soups, a trou normand , a pie with a twist, cheese of course, and a peche panacotta with madeleines and mango sorbet! And the best of all? It’s all homemade!!!!

Hungry yet?

Tom & Eva handbags from Paris with Love

On my recent trip to France for Christmas, I paid a little visit to Lib Et Lule. Lib Et Lule might be a small shop but it is full of treasures, and even more importantly affordable treasures!

They store modern and easy to wear clothes, jewellery and accessories. Whilst the purpose of our visit (I was with my mum) was to find her a top or something sparkly for New Year’s eve to wear, she left empty handed and disappointed. But I didn’t!

I have been looking for a while for a replacement for my cherished but battered cross over the body weekend bag. My new bag needed to be practical (pockets inside and outside), roomy (purse, keys, 2 phones and a small bottle of water), classic as well as edgy. As if this wasn’t enough, I wanted a bag that I could use to go to rugby at the weekend or shopping or go down the pub and in a colour which would go with everything all year round. That meant no black, no beige nor any other bright colours.

I found my perfect bag at Lib Et Lule. It is a grey soft leather bag from Tom Et Eva, the Parisian brand retailing leather bags made in Italy. Unfortunately they do not have their own website which is peculiar this day and age! Therefore, you will have to google it and find your closest retailer or order on line for instance from www.brandalley.fr

Even if your strict requirements are different, evening or office handbag or even colourful handbag, the Tom And Eva brand has a range to suit every demanding woman at a price which will fit your budget!

Here is my new favourite that I use at every possible opportunity. It has tassels for a contemporary and trendy look!

And another one I like for the summer days, from Brandalley:

Wellicious – thank you father Christmas!

In a recent post I suggested you checked out a website called Wellicious. It specialises in loungewear and yoga / pilates outfits. Well, I wasn’t joking when I said that I did ask for some of their fab goodies for Chrimbo, and I did get them! I am loving my Miami top with its edgy design and my 3/4 yoga pants, which are just SO comfy! I might just use them to lounge around…

Thank you Santa and thank you Wellicious!!!

http://www.wellicious.com

Downton Abbey Christmas special – Vive Le Tartan

Ahhh, the Grantham were back for a Christmas special, as they are every year, and they never disappoint! The new maid obviously has her own agenda, quite clear from the minute she stepped in, Mrs Bates flirting, and a possible divorce in the family? Times have moved on but that much?

Something which does not change though is the beauty of the outfits, the details in the embellishments, this never disappoints either. A new addition though for this episode is the Scottish tartan. I especially like the dark green and blue worn over the shoulder and pinned with a big blue brooch. Tartan is back in this season, not just in Downton but also in the shops, so check out the sales!

Just a quick glimpse of a nice smart number from Karen Millen:

The proof of the pudding – did you know…

Something for the non-British for a change!

Languages are difficult, we all know that. However, the great difficulty is not so much in learning a language but mostly in understanding idioms, remembering them and using them in the right context.

One I like is “the proof of the pudding” which is an abbreviation for “the proof of the pudding is in eating it”. Effectively, it says that you won’t know whether you like something until you have tried or tested it. It doesn’t solely apply to food by the way!

I find expressions fascinating, don’t you?

Wearing heels tonight? Here is your best fashion tip!

The other night we were out wedding dress shopping, or mostly trying, and no (before you ask) not for me. Oh, and no I will not give any names, data privacy and all that…

So, after an hour of “oh this is gorgeous on you” or “not sure about this one” or “too sexy for a traditional wedding”, we left Frederique (the so helpful and so honest shop assistant) and went for a celebratory drink, bubbles of course!

So off we went, across the road, to the swanky bar of a hotel from a renowned chain. As it is Christmas time, most of the bar was obviously busy with a crowd dressed in black and red, clearly the theme of their Christmas party! Dressing up, don’t we like it ladies? Getting ready an glamed up is the fun part, but unfortunately occasions are rare these days, unless you’re a celeb attending red carpets events regularly.

Whilst most attendees had obviously made an effort, some had clearly a last minute panic… Or maybe a last minute invite? Surely not… On the day dilemmas or wardrobe issues happen. A seam undone, a broken heel or else. They can all be fixed, maybe apart from a huge spot on your face. Did i just write that? Oops… Anyhow, there is one fashion faux-pas that is easy to avoid and this is !removing the labels on the soles on your newly acquired pair of shoes¡!! So easy and quick and some women don’t bother! WHY??? Would they really go out with label still on the famous red soles of a Louboutin pair? I very much doubt it…

For the others, well done! And happy partying!

And just because they’re gorgeous…:
www.christianlouboutin.com

Jordane’s festive wishes – les voeux de Jordane

Another year is almost over, yes, soon it will be 2013. So it was obvious that I had to send you all a quick note to wish you not only a merry Christmas, but also a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

2012 has brought ups and downs, like any other year. I shared wonderful moments with family and fantastic friends and made new ones, which thankfully eclipsed the sadder times. One can only hope that 2013 will be an even greater year. 13 is a lucky number for me, so I take it as a good sign!

It is officially more or less Christmas, the proof of the pudding:

On a final note, for the ones of you contemplating taking New Year’s resolutions, good on you. Although, if you are not convinced you can stick to it, I wouldn’t bother…

On that happy note, je vous souhaite a tous et toutes d’excellentes fetes de fin d’annee et tous mes meilleurs voeux pour 2013!

Bring on 2013!

My favourite quote of the day! Any girl can look glamorous…

Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid.
Quote attributed to Hedy Lamarr, actress, 1914-2000.

Is it really that simple?

Naming handbags, when did it all start?

Some people think there is a new trend which effectively consists in naming a handbag after a female celebrity is spotted with a handbag several times and she makes it almost her trademark. Recent examples include Pippa and her IT bag from Modalu or again Alexa Chung and her famous bag from Mulberry.

Actually, this is NOT a new trend at all. It started in 1956 when Hermes, French luxury firm, renamed one of their styles the Kelly bag, after Princess Grace Kelly used hers to shield her pregnancy from the press when she appears on the cover of Life Magazine.

Fashion rarely reinvents the wheel but most times only recycles.

Fish fanatic? Try The Lobster Pot

This restaurant is a little heaven for fish addicts… The chef, French and from Brittany, shares his love and passion for fish. His menu is mouth mattering, and so is his food! We recently tried the degustation menu, with lobster (!), and it was so good value for money!

To accompany the food, you will find a very decent and eclectic wine list, to suit all tastes and all budgets.

Please give it a try!

www.lobsterpotrestaurant.co.uk