Flowers mood...

It was supposed to be an ordinary Wednesday night - however, I didn't feel like cooking, he didn't feel like cooking, and none of us felt like having some take-away. The answer for our little dilemma? Dinner out in the pride of our neighborhood, a little italian restaurant called "Fish In a Tie" :)

Usually situations like that - going to a restaurant five minutes from your place for a Wednesday night dinner with the Hubby because none of you felt like cooking - do not call for some carefully chosen ensemble, in other words: one usually wears the jeans that she wore yesterday, which are still handy on the bedroom chair, picks a top, and takes the jacket that is already close to the door, and off we go.

Well, not completely immune to moments like that, I find myself fighting harder and harder against them - I really can't cope with the idea that there are situations when you should really dress up and there are others where you just shouldn't bother. We do not need an excuse to look our very best, even if you are just going for groceries shopping - I tend to follow the cliché but not less true maxim "Life is too short", enjoy it and live each second to the fullest :)

And come and think about it - I was going out for dinner, in a nice restaurant, with the Hubby - is there any better excuse to dress up?

Blouse H&M | Trousers French Connection | Scarf (hair) Caroll | Shoes Aldo | Handbag Purificación García | Necklace Mango | Bracelet (gifted)

Roast chicken...

This is such a classic dish: it is so delicious, so easy to cook, and depending on the amount you cook, you can use any left-over for an endless number of menu options - chicken salad, chicken sandwich, chicken and spaghetti, chicken soup, chicken stock...it really is something you want on your fridge for those days when you really can't be bother to do something original :)

This is pretty much my mother's recipe, with a little bit of this and that which I have learned along the way :)

One thing that is absolutely crucial, in my opinion, is to season the chicken beforehand - I'm not sure if I can call it an Angolan or/and Portuguese thing, but in my family it is definitely compulsory: you always season the meat before cooking.

Also, I love chicken as much as anyone, but I think it is quite bland, so one of my main concerns is to give it as much flavour as I can.

As you will note, I cut the chicken (actually, the butcher did ;)) in pieces before cooking it - of course you can cook the whole chicken, but I just think it is easier this way, it requires no carving, and you really don't lose anything flavour-wise!

Well, with that in mind:

(1) Pre-heat the oven to 200C;

(2) Season the chicken with salt, ground black pepper, garlic (finely minced) - I will either smash the garlic, salt and pepper in a pestle and mortar, add some olive oil (makes it easier to rub the mixture on the chicken) or I will use an hand blender; A couple of bay leaves are also a good addition to the seasoning :)

I usually allow the chicken to marinate for at least half an hour.

(3) While the chicken is marinating, prepare your veggies - slice some carrots, onions and potatoes;

(4) Lay the vegetables on a roasting tin;

(5) Lay the chicken over the vegetables;

(6) Add the juice of an orange (helps browning the chicken), a tablespoon of mild paprika powder (optional) and some white wine (it is important to keep the chicken moist and to have some sauce, so you can either add some water or some white wine);

(7) Smear a tiny bit of butter over each piece of chicken - it adds some flavour and also helps with the browning;

(8) And, for the pièce de résistance (thank you Daddy for this tip ;)) put an apple in the middle of the roasting tin, preferably a green apple, but if you only happen to have a red apple that will do too - helps with the flavour, and it is a delicious side for the chicken.

(9) Cook the chicken for 1hr20m in a 200C oven;

(10) To make sure that the chicken is completely cooked, cut between the leg and the breast, if the juices run clear the chicken is ready :) If, for some reason, the vegetables aren't completely cooked and the chicken is, take out the chicken and put the vegetables back to the oven until they are ready :)

Leather adventure...

Location, time, destination: on the train to Waterloo, just before 9 a.m., going to work - usually that early in the morning I tend to be a less social person, I just mind my own business, thinking of my plans for the day ahead. But this was definitely marked to be a different morning - there was this girl, she was wearing a leather skirt and a denim shirt, an ensemble that would not ordinarily grasp my attention, but on that morning it sure did! For the whole 10 minutes-long trip, I could not stop looking at her with complete delight, complimenting her in silence, reprimanding myself for not even considering that a possible outfit - so stylish and fun :)

A little of background information for you - I never saw myself as a person who could pull off leather. If fabrics had a personality (don't they?), leather would be a bit of a dare-devil, bold, adventurous, basically Angelina Jolie b.b. (before Brad), whilst other fabrics like silk or cotton would be more reserved, shy, discreet - Suffice to say that I only bought my very first leather jacket last year, and, suprising enough, it was probably the jacket I wore the most this winter :)

I had all these misconceptions - leather and other fabrics I love don't go well, leather is a winter fabric, leather calls for a bad-ass attitude - well, wrong, wrong, wrong!

Going for work? A leather pencil-skirt, a white shirt and pumps! Going out for dinner? Leather shorts, a silk blouse and sandals! Going for a concert? Leather pants, a cotton/jersey top and flat sandals/ballerinas/brogues! Going for a picnic? Take inspiration from the train-girl, leather shorts, a denim shirt and flat sandals/ballerinas/brogues!

Well, here are some exciting possibilities:

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#1 Reiss Suzy Tuck Detail Short Mocha 

#2 Reiss Milla Leather Short Taupe 

#3 Topshop Tan Leather Buckle Shorts 

#4 Warehouse Leather Shorts 

#5 Asos Laser Cut Leather Shorts 

#6 River Island Red Leather Lace Up Shorts 

#7 French Connection Quinton Leather Mini Skirt 

#8 Oasis Pencil Skirt 

#9 Asos Stitch Panel Leather Trousers 

#10 Notify Bamboo 75 Biker Mid Rise Leather Pants 

Loose fit...

Fashion experts will all tell you that a curvy woman should never wear loose clothes - why would someone make herself look wider than she really is, right?

Well, allow me to differ - I simply refuse the idea of having upon me some sort of obligation to show the world that I have some curves, that I am not completely shapeless, that my tummy is like this and not like that. And, since we are on this subject, let me share with you something that really gets on my nerves - I resent the fact that people tend to think that a curvy woman will only pick a loose shirt/dress/whatever in a quest to hide her body! That's not always the case, believe me :)

It was really love at first sight when I saw this blouse, almost immediately I knew how I wanted to wear it - either with some leggings and flats or skinny jeans and heels :) And I absolutely adore its colour, it is such a peaceful green, it just makes me happy :)

And brogues, I am such a huge fan - I can't wait to get a new pair, something a bit flashy ;)

Blouse Joy | Blazer H&M | Top (underneath) H&M | Leggings H&M | Clutch Nine West | Brogues Salvatore Ferragamo 

Denim...

Yesterday was a really good day, my wardrobe and I were in perfect harmony - days like that are so scarce in my life - I knew exactly what I wanted to dress and it took me less than ten minutes to figure out the whole outfit, YAY :)

Well, then again, it was kinda of a no-brainer - the moment I decided to put on some jeans, actually my best pair of jeans (you know, the ones that make your legs and behind look exactly the way you want ;)), I knew how easy of a ride it would be to pick the top.

Jeans are definitely one of our best friends, clothes-wise - they are so versatile, chic, practical - and they have this amazing gift: they stop you from looking over-the-top, it really doesn't matter what you pair them with, you will look just fine (well, there are maybe a few exceptions, not even jeans can be that perfect!).

Jeans French Connection | Blouse Oasis | Top (underneath) French Connection | Jacket St. John | Necklace Dorothy Perkins | Shoes French Connection

Cross Body...

Go shopping, carry groceries, carry laundry, carry boxes, push a pushchair, watch a concert, go out for drinks on a Friday night, go out dancing, walk around a city you don't know, eat an ice-cream while walking and window-shopping, carry your baby, carry your nephew, walk the dog, reply a text on your iphone with both hands, drink a frappuccino while walking and carrying your shopping bags, try a free sea-salt hand exfoliation, carry your BFF who drank a tad too much,  shop one of H&M designers' collaboration collections, buy shoes at Harrods during sales' season, shape your nails while waiting for the bus, analyse your split-ends while waiting for the bus, read "Stylist" while waiting for the bus, pick someone at the airport and help with the luggage, give a proper hug...

They are simple, functional, practical, cool - I know, in a perfect world fashion would never yield to practicability, but on our day-to-day life it kind has to - and with that on mind, let us thank the "oh so efficient but still stylish" cross body bags :)

I just love how liberating and laid back they are - and nowadays there are so many different designs and styles, that we are really spoilt for choices.

Well, here are some of my choices:

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#1 Zara Flap Over Messenger Bag 

#2 Vivienne Westwood Summer Tartan Cross-Body Clutch 

#3 Topshop Punchout Lady Bag 

#4 H&M Messenger Bag 

#5 River Island Cream Cross Body Chain Handle Bag 

#6 French Connection Suede Across Body Bag 

#7 Oasis Small Butterfly Cross Body Bag 

#8 Miu Miu Sequin-Embellished Leather Bag 

#9 Marc by Marc Jacobs Natasha Leather Cross-Body Bag 

#10 Mango Handbag P..Sailor -TC 

Blondies...

I simply adore this name: Blondies - brownies with peanut butter and white chocolate :)

This is a Rachel Allen's recipe, and it is absolutely delicious - so delicious that I am actually taking them to the office, I cannot have such temptations so close to hand :) This is a recipe I wrote whilst watching her divine show "Rachel Allen Bake!" :)

Ingredients:

100g butter, softened

150g peanut butter (you can choose either smooth or crunchy - I did mine with crunchy peanut butter, I love taking a bite and finding a bit of white chocolate and bits of peanut)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

175gr golden sugar

1 egg

75g white chocolate

125g plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

(1) Preheat the oven to 170C;

(2) In a bowl, cream the butter and peanut butter until the mixture gets really light, soft and creamy;

(3) Once nice and pale, add the vanilla extract, the sugar and the egg - beat all this, first in low speed, then speed it up;

(4) Chop the chocolate into quite small pieces, just like chocolate chips - stir them in the mixture;

(5) Sieve in the flour and baking powder - stir to form a dough;

(6) Butter the sides of a square cake tin and line the base with greaseproof paper;

(7) Spread the dough in the tin evenly and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes;

(8) Remove from the oven and allow it to cool before taking it off the tin and cutting into squares - dust with some icing sugar.

*ENJOY*

Going out for pizza...

Although I do enjoy having a week-routine of some kind - hubby and I get home from work, I cook dinner, we eat, he plays a bit of playstation while I write for the blog/read other blogs/make plans for the week - it is always fun to go out for a date or meet friends and disrupt the said routine.

Yesterday we went out with a good friend for some good pizza and some good wine. There is nothing particularly interesting in the outfit I wore, but again that's exactly me - nine out of ten occasions I won't dress anything particularly interesting :) What I love the most about this outfit is the blazer which adds a bit of glam to the whole look, and I was deliriously happy for wearing my gladiators...it's official, Spring is here :)

Sorry for the photos, we took them with my phone, and according to the hubby, I am the worst model ever because I just can't stand still!

Dress DKNY Jeans | Blazer H&M | Leggings H&M | Gladiators Marc by Marc Jacobs | Necklace Mango | Clutch Mango

The little white dress...

Comes Springtime and almost immediately my wardrobe becomes a true rainbow - yellow, orange, red, pink, blue, purple replace any hint of grey, black and even brown! However, amongst this sea of colour you will find my secret weapon - the one garment that always makes me feel elegant and glamorous, the little white dress :)

Pure, sophisticated, chic, graceful, there's just something about a little white dress that makes you feel oh so special when wearing one.

It allows you to be a true artist as it imposes no boundaries to your creativity - heels vs flats, white on white vs white and colour, plain vs bold, formal vs casual.

It is your faithful companion, the one you can always resort to when you feel completely uninspired and let down by your wardrobe.

It only comes with one "rule" - it is not completely mandatory, but a tan takes it to another level :)

Well, here are some designs that brought a smile to my face:

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#1 BCBGMAXAZRIA Scalloped-Hem Silk Dress 

#2 French Connection Aurelia Cotton Dress 

#3 Monsoon Minnie Tunic 

#4 Topshop Cami Ruch Mesh Dress 

#5 Mango Dress Dentelle 

#6 French Connection Shelbys Summer Belted Dress 

#7 Anthropologie Canopy Lookout Dress 

#8 BCBGMAXAZRIA Lindsay Lacy Tunic