New Cristian Dior Spring Couture 2011 Show!

 Although this blog is kind of related to fashion - I am posting outfit pics after all! - you will NOT get the latest trends here dear reader! I'm really sorry if I'm letting you down, but talking to me about fashion trends is like talking to me about molecular biology = I'm sure some people can do it, but I certainly can't always make sense of the new trends. And I don't follow them. So this post is accidental... I just happened to see Dior's new collection out there. Here's a flavour with my 10-things-i'd-buy-if-I-were-rich-and-casually-shopping pictures:

 What can we learn from Dior this spring?? I think that the collection had a retro vibe and it was very feminine. Pastels - pink, blue, green and purple are a must! Don't be afraid to let the spring colours in your wardrobe. Ruffles and sheer fabrics are still hot. Add some extra volume on your lower body! In order to tease you some more dear reader, I'm also giving you my 10-things-i'd-buy-if-I-were-rich-and-casually-shopping-and-15kg-lighter-and-a-lot-taller mix:

All photos taken from here

Cheers! xxx

 

Creative Cooking (or “How to turn your leftover rice into a full meal")

 Ok, sometimes I like to cook in the same way that I like to dress. It doesn't make much sense to others but it starts with the thought: "Damn...I have nothing in my closet/fridge". Then I decide to be creative. After some chemical reactions in my brain it goes like: "Hmm, this skirt/pepper or that top/onion looks interesting". And then I just mix and match!! Do I always look good? NO. Is the result always edible? Definitely NO! Do I have fun while I do this? You BET!! Do I annoy everybody else in the house? For SURE!!

 Yesterday I was in such a mood. It started with the thought: "I have some leftover spiced rice that looks interesting".....

 Ok....It doesn't really - but I just have a thing for not wanting to throw food away. So I had that. And I had potatoes and I washed them and peeled them and chopped them and then I also had that:

And those:

  I did some more preparation that included: 1. Preheating oven at 220 C.; 2. Washing, cutting and removing the seeds of the peppers as shown and grilling them for 10 min.; 3. Chopping the rest of the ingredients on your cutting board; 4. Boiling your potatoes for 10 min. or until they start to soften - drain the water; 5. Laying your potatoes on a baking pan and sprinkling with salt, pepper, olive oil and thyme (not a lot or your potatoes will taste bitter).

 For the stuffing: Add some olive oil in a frying pan. When hot add the chopped ingredients (onion, garlic, dill, parsley, some almonds, kidney beans, salt, pepper and paprika). Cook until your ingredients soften. Mix with feta and your leftover rice and stuff your peppers.

 At this point your oven should look like this:

And your sink should look like this:

Bake the peppers for 20 min. and the potatoes until they become golden-brown. You should end up with something like that: 

Enjoy!!!

I have a little secret...

I just stumbled upon this amazing offer while window-shopping for vintage clothes:

We all love a good sale and up to 50% is a fair amount if you ask me. Especially if it allows you to get your hands on one of the kind goodies that you wouldn't normally find in your local providers!

I know that when it comes to vintage, we are way back in Greece! I get the sense that Greeks take a dim look of wearing someone else's second hand clothes! Hopefully this approach is soon changing, because you can find small treasures in thrift stores and flea markets - and really cheap!!

And here is a random choice of 10-things-i'd-buy-if-I-were-rich-and-casually-shopping!!Feel free to pretend it's my birthday my devoted readers!

Black, brown and grey.... again?

Well, after working mostly with men for the last 2 years, I'm kind of adapting to the attitude:"don't fix it if it ain't broken" and "if it's working, stick with it"! So, since I like mixing pastels after all, here's another black-brown-grey outfit!

Back to my safe and beloved skirt-tee-platform combo, I just added a belt, a cardi and a brooch. The brooch actually came with a Chilli Pepper weave coat I bought from ASOS  (down to 50 euro out of 140) but was attached to a clasp and it came off (how handy!).

The skirt, although very cheap, is soon hitting my "all-time-top-5-favourite-skirts" list! You also saw it here, with a wee bit of colour! The same applies for my new wonders shoes!

They are the most comfortable shoes I own and I think I can wear them during spring and next summer easily! What do you think? 

The last picture is irrelevant but it still fits under the title:Black, brown and grey!!! It's our kind, cute and smart doggy - Billy; and the famous Cat band! (2 out of the 3 members)! See you soon! xxx

Outfit:

Skirt - Sprider stores

Inside - tee from Manuka - the softest ever!!!

Outside - Vintage black V-neck sweater

Cardi - Pins and Needles from Urban Outfitters

Belt - French Connection from Asos 

Shoes -Wonders from U.O.

Bag - Urban Outfitters

Glasses - Just Cavalli

Black, brown and grey

I'm very proud of yesterday's outfit!! Not because I managed to combine black, brown and grey which I think is a combination that many people avoid....

....but actually because this is my first outfit that includes a pair of trousers since - wait for it... - 1999 maybe??

Yes, that's right - I didn't own a single pair of jeans or any other decent pair of pants (but for the occasional track suit pants for indoors use)for many years!

I believe that women should know and love their body as it is and of course dress accordingly. Being pear-shaped I was sticking to dresses and skirts, which is a very feminine look and it works for most of us, plus I was feeling more comfortable and light in them! But after leaving my 9-5 past behind me, after hitting 30 and moving back to Nafplio (my small hometown), it became pretty obvious that my wardrobe needs to be complemented with clothes that are practical (yet chic...)!

So, this was my first attempt! 

Outfit:

Pants - local flea market (10 euro)

Blouse - Zara

Belt & grey Cardi - Urban Outfitters

Shoes - everyday flats (10 euro) from a flea market

Scarf -gift from my aunt!

Necklace - Asos

Hat - local accessories shop 

Glasses - Just Cavalli

The hat follows the spirit of practicallity in this post - I just had THE worst haircut EVER!! That's another story - I'm not complaining - but you'll be seeing a lot of hats from now on....!

Happy (shopping) hour!!

What's not to love about Urban Outfitters? Amazing clothes, accessories and pretty much anything you'll need for you, your mate or your house! And when you come across deals you should share, right? So....

Keep in mind that in order to get your goodies in Greece, you have to pay 35 euro for delivery service (with no cheaper/slower methods available! Show some mercy U.O. people…!) But just for the weekend - Enter the code you see above when you check-out and enjoy!! You just saved 15 euro! And don't forget to check out the "sales" section because...

Yeap - 70% off!! Damn you unemployment and "going, going, almost gone" bank account!! So, my dear readers go on and shop for me (sob...)!!! And comment, and show me what you got!

A lunch in the sun

A while ago we visited our friend I. for a lunch in her cottage!

Our hostess not only was stylish as usual but being norwegian she had also prepared a lovely, full, 3-course meal for us!!

The day was sunny and warm, so we sat outside and soon engaged in interesting conversations over good wine....

And of course some outfit - as plain and cheap as it was - pictures!

Outfit:

Skirt - local flea market (ages ago)

Blouse - Zara

Belt - Asos

Shoes - everyday flats (10 euro) from the same flea market!

Scarf - Asos

Rose silk brooch - handmade 

The total cost of this outfit was less than 100 euro, with the most expensive thing being the belt (or was it the scarf? But you get my spirit - right?) 

I hope you all enjoyed the sun over the weekend!

Principles

It's 2011!! New Year - new life maybe?? I was riffling through my filofax the other day and I came across my "quote page". Every year I use a filofax to organize my appointments, things to do and my life in general (I'm famous of my "making lists over practically everything" habit!!) Another habit I have is that on the last page I scribble all the quotes I happen to find that inspire me. So, since this is a blog of inspiration after all, I decided to share my quotes. On a weekly basis I'll be posting in the "Principles" section ideas and sayings of other people that I find inspiring in a way that you can really think over them and actually live your life by them (according of course to my point of view). So here's the first one:

 

I don't really know if it's a quote, but it still is an excellent way to try and live your life by. Challenge yourself everyday - it's the only way you can actually get to know your inner self and eventually grow! The amazing illustrator of that is Alex Noriega. See more of his unigue work and follow his blog here!

Let the challenging begin and see you all next week!!

Yesterday's outfit

 

Remember that lovely neutral-coloured scarf I bought from ASOS sale?  Well, I decided to take it out on this sunny day!

I wore it downtown to run some errands (paying bills, buying groceries and a quick coffee with a friend)! I also wore my lovely new necklace - I really like the combination of a long necklace under a scarf.

 

By the way, aren't the orange trees around our house beautiful?? And we can pick them fresh for a juice - compliments of our landlord!!

Outfit:

Skirt - Sprider stores

Inside - tee from Calzedonia

Layered - Tee from Asos maternity

Belt - French Connection

Shoes - Asos

Bag - On Pedder

Scarf and necklace - Asos

 

Smoker's vintage

During the Xmas holiday, we visited bf's parents at his village - nothing weird in that, as this is a very traditional way to spend holidays in Greece : family and tons of food!!! The difference this year is that we left with an unusual present....

 

.... some vintage rolling papers!

Well.. let me explain! The bf's village is on a mountain and they used to grow tobacco there, back on the days when the agricultural production in Greece was thriving. The people were really poor and smoking was a very expensive habit. The government was distributing these rolling papers to the tobacco farmers alone, to cover their needs!

 

Weird, right?? Nowadays they are considered a "cult" object and they are believed to be the best rolling papers ever, as they were made of 100% natural fibres and they had no glue!

After some online searching -thank you internet gods!- I found out that they still exist but with a different packing. The modern version includes two types of rolling papers - they both have glue, but it's natural (made from a plant extract).

 

You can order them online from various sites - The pics I used are taken from this site... - P.S.: Did you notice that the date on them (new package) is 1944!!

 

Dear Santa....

....please send me a couple of boxes with goodies - I was a really good girl this year!!

And presto - my wish is granded : my ASOS delivery arrived a couple of days after new year - another reason to keep up the holiday spirit and celebrate! This time I ordered for both me and the bf - actually the bigger box was his! He got 2 pairs of new shoes, a pair of Camper boots and 2 sweaters. The ones in the pic are my favourites - very funky and easy to combine with almost any male outfit I think!

 

And for me I got a really soft and long American Apparel grey cotton scarf and  some bling-bling (I just loved the "bite me" apple necklace...

.... as well as a dreamy set of underwear from ASOS boudoir collection, which is quite foxy but with a vintage touch! (and not very expensive, the set cost 30 euro)

And finally this cute scarf with neutral colours that I can already match in my head with various items included in my wardrobe!!!

 

Thank you Santa!

First things first!

Happy New Year everybody! 

 

May 2011 be the best year of your life! Welcome to my blog - it's all about magic and creation. The things that inspire me, the outfits that I love, the recipes that I try and my attempt (not always succesfull...) to create a little magic on my own!! I'm not an expert of any kind - on the contrary, everything is so new and sometimes frustrating! - so please, bear with me... And let's just join our hopes and dreams for the new year!

 

That's our traditional New Year Pie (a.k.a. Vasilopita in greek), with a twist: the chocolate topping instead of the pounded sugar that's normally used - delicious! I baked it with the help of my mom and since it's already gone, I promise a post of the recipe (along with some pics) if I can persuade her to bake another one!!