Do the polka

Spotted, polka, dotted. I am totally digging these little circular shapes. I usually go for blocks of plain color and am not a pattern person. Polka dots being the exception. They just seem so happy and free, fun and young. How I love them so, for me and my daughter (just got some fun new tights in from H&M for when the heatwave dies down). Check it.

The peg pants are a style I like because A.they work with my figure and B. they showcase heels to perfection. The blouse is super flirty and geeky all at once, totally my thing as I were glasses and am a Syfy nerd. Both via Asos.

Once again an Asos find. This spotted pencil skirt works well to give one, I mean me, a rocking bod and butt. Alas, no longer available in my size.

I  do not wear sneakers that often, but when I do they are converse style and not athletic trainers. I think these canvas ones from Romwe are super cute. Plus they are on sale.


Tights are a fun and useful cold weather staple in my closet. The first pair are from Gipsy and the second from House of Holland. Available via their own sites, Asos, Topshop, River Island and so on.



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Autumn loves...

Food

As it the rest of my life, less is just less. Food is more than just a base need, it is a opportunity for enjoyment. Not just of that which you are eating, but the whole experience. A special treat as a kid, a romantic dinner with the love of your life, ice cream after playing outside on a warm summer's day. Today was all about biking, laying in the park and getting ice cream with my husband, toddler and baby. Sitting side by side, walking hand in hand, slurping up melting, leaking ice cream. Little drops of heaven. An ode to a few food favs for the memories they made, the ones in the making and the ones yet to come.

How to be a domestic goddess

Hands down the favorite, most used, best cookbook I own. I love the simplicity, the sometimes kooky sensibilities and above all the food. The cupcakes are so simple they get made every couple of weeks. The cream cheese brownies I adore and the list goes on.

Eggnog

I remember my first tasting of eggnog at a church gathering at Christmas time; true love. I have since been hooked on this beverage at Christmas. Being hard too get in the Netherlands, I have ordered it from France speaking no french, had it brought over by visiting relatives, stored in the cupboards in bulk and tried making it (epic fail). I love it so.

BBQ

Baby back, baby back, baby bacccckk, ribs! Chicken, coleslaw and rice. Yes rice, not fries. As a kid on an island you barbecued. It seemed like every week there was a fundraiser with tickets being sold for a plate of BBQ in a polystyrene, environmentally unfriendly tray with partitions that kept nothing seperate, ahh the memories.  Fast forward, say ahem fifteen or so years later, and no one does that style of serving or combo in my neck of the woods. Que, the sad music..

Malaysian satay

Food is very memory-tied for me. I remember my honeymoon; eating leftover satay we picked up before the boatride to the island, while on the porch watching the sea with a fresh breeze on our faces. The best I have ever had, even cold it was delicious. The sauce, oh man the sauce. Licking my chops just to think of it and feeling all relaxed and easygoing just to think of it. Irie, mon.

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Autumn loves...

Kids design

Since the birth of my daughter in 2010 and my son in February our household has acquired an amazing amount of baby gear. With an active toddler and her toys, plus a baby a couple of months old, the place seems at times to be a daycare facility. To combat this ill effect, I recommend the following.. good looking crap, I mean kids gear.

I love poufs and think the products from Chic Sin Design and Woouf! are amazing. The bear bean bag would be lovely in my girl's room to expand her current reading cushion. The record cushion would be a perfect addition to the seating area's in the baby's room.

Storage, storage, storage is the key to a minimal look, but is also necessary to keep from slipping on some kind of toy. I have stepped on enough Lego, thank you very much. I already have the giant Lego storage bricks in eight and four, but would like some more for her newer Hello Kitty Lego speciality sets.







Alas, Lego is just one of the many toys that need a home. I have been on the search for good looking, child friendly (easy open, soft shutting), reasonably priced storage for awhile. Surprisingly hard to find this trinity of qualities. Slightly disregarding the last quality, I think two of the ash veneer basket by Mint via the Collection would look good in the living room and the wire basket in rose from the new Ferm Living collection would do well to coral the stuffed animals now spread across the floor in said girls room. And staying in building block mode, how cute is the Ogle toy box.

I recently added some artwork to the baby's room and like the idea of having art that appeals to the kids as well. When I finally get around to doing the kids play area, I think it would be fun to add some artwork to the back wall. Maybe loosely taped with fluor masking tape? So nothing to costly or precious. I adore the Mustache Moon by Martin Krusche and Pirum Parum print from from Fine Little Day.





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Autumn loves...

Interior design

I remember when my now husband/then boyfriend and I decided to move in together (time surely does fly). After several rejects; too small, too old, or too expensive, we finaly found the perfect place downtown. I bought a couple of magazines to read on the train (we were living in diffrent cities) and to get inspired for the new joint space. I remember opening the magazine and seeing angels circling above the pages. Maybe not angels, but I was instantly hooked and still am.

To replace the current lamp above the dining table; The Cover lamp from Perlei. I love that is very sleek and simple. No frills, just the thrills.

I have a thing for side table, stools, poufs the way I have for shoes. I have several dotted about the place. I think the Plopp from Hay is especially super cute. The yellow makes a nice switch from white and it is just so fun with it's deflated balloon shape.

My dream stool is the Eames stool, all three of them. Solid walnut, great timeless shape, what's not to love.

I have been salavitating over the Flocks pouf from Christien Meindertsma for years. I even had a nice savings pot going, but decided to get a double stroller instead (boo practical mothering sensibilities).

I adore throws and have one close to, if not on the sofa year round. Even on a summer's night there is something so reassuring about being snuggled into the couch. One of my most favorite things to do is to burrow in, demolish a bowl of popcorn and watch a grade-A crappy science fiction movie. Ah, my ideal Saturday night. But it has got to look good and this is such a beautifull throw. Alas, one again pissing next to the pot (intentionally badly translated). From Mauddesigns via Etsy.

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Autumn loves...

Fashion

So I posted a little while back about my loves for the summer. Well like I said before; I fall in love everyday. So I thought it would be fun to do a 'current loves' series for each of my interest. Today's is fashion, followed by interior design, kids design and food.

I mentioned my love of the wedge sneaker in the summer loves post and how the one that inspired it was out of grasp. I recently saw a pair while in town the other day and rushed home and checked out the website that same day (heh, shopping with crying kids is no flipping fun). Plus a second pair of sneakers that I think are fab: 1. Serafini Manhattan wedge sneaker with my beloved snakeskin detailing. 2. Topshop Agasi sneaker with beloved studs. Really, studs, exposed zippers and snakeskin are my fav details and I love them in just about anything..

Coats are an essential item as it starts to get colder. Luckily a ways off yet, but never too soon to start planning. I have been looking forward to a new coat for a while, but postponed it last winter due to not wanting a lovely coat I could only wear during the last term of my pregnancy (yea Mika Dylan Jagger Arts, love that boy and that name). 1. This jacket from Cooper and Stoolbrand via Asos is the shizzle. Victorian, frilly and fun. 2. The double zip jacket from Cos (no longer available) would be a great every day piece.

Poor cows, goats, basically anything with good leather making hides. I love leather in shoes, bags, belts and other accessories. This has now crossed over into clothing. 1. Leather dress from Bruuns Bazaar. 2. Leather shorts from Twist & Tango. 3. Leather pencil skirt from Warehouse via Asos.

  

My most favorite item in an outfit is the shoe so another section on shoes to finish. After all one can not live on sneakers alone. I have so many and want so many more. I adore these two from the current Zara collection. There are so many more lovelies, but these two are kinda super. Pony, studs and ankle straps. Sounds like SM..in a shoe, which I like. Nice and naughty, never boring, never dull.







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Pizza baby

Well my little girl just turned two a week ago to the day yesterday (yea, supers!), but alas she still eats like a baby. Meaning not wanting to try anything new and basically existing on bread. Fruit and vegetable are the enemy. One of the few things she will eat (sometimes, mood depending) is pizza. Go figure. So we make it pretty often. It is a easier (only) way to get some veggies in. Crusty bread covered in sauce? Even supers can not resist some onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and the like.

We use this recipe from What's cookin, Chicago? for the dough. It is quick, easy and non-messy. Got to love no-knead recipes. I always add some dried oregano and garlic powder to the dough. Or spicy oil instead of plain olive to give it a bit more bang for the buck. Often we top it with tomato sauce (like duh), mozzarella, sliced chorizo, chestnut mushrooms, garlic, onions, parmesan and fresh basil leaves to top it off and drizzled with olive oil. The oven gets cranked to the max (at least 250 celsius) and baked on a preheated tray. When done a shaving more of parmesan and arugula and we are good to go. A bit more expensive than store-bought, but hey the taste is worth it.

Below are pics of a simpler version as it was a bit warm and the idea of a heavy meal seemed entirely unappealing. The dough made three thin Italian style Margherita's. I would like to say accompanied by a serving of veg, but further than slices of cucumber and lettuce leaves we do not go. I guess it kinda runs in the family, if not extremely exaggerated by toddlerhood?

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