Red velvet

Wine red and burgundy are the colours of fall. The intense colour of the maple trees in the garden make the darker mornings and shorter days brighter. And so I need this colour in my wardrobe ..albeit it toned down with black and soft pinks. And since it's is autumn, it has to be suede, velvet and wool.

Coat from ST Studio, backpack and ankle boots by Zara, Mohair sweater, suede boots, gloves and lipstick from & Other Stories.

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Cinnamon risotto with vin santo, caramel and mascarpone cream

Bless the souls who only crave healthy foods. I am not one of them. I have been whining and complaining every single night as I raid the cupboards for something sweet and satisfying. What can I say? It's getting colder and I have a flippin sweet tooth, people. 

This started off in my mind as sinfully sugary but with my workout fresh in my mind, I toned down the envisioned sugar overload. The caramel is salted brown sugar and just a couple of spoonfuls suffice. The risotto was glazed in brown butter, followed by the wine obviously. Then came a mix of water, cinnamon sticks, ground allspice and sweetened with maple syrup. I added the caramel to the cooked risotto. 

The mascarpone was simply whipped with a little vanilla bean paste and maple syrup. Made the way I do most of my cooking..sans measurements and absolutely to taste.. my taste. A perfect balance of autumn flavours for a perfect balance to my need for sweet.

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Creuset

Roadtrip! We did an overnight trip by car to France last weekend. Officially the longest I've sat in a car. I love going anywhere with my guy, so despite the long haul, we had a blast. I even managed to haul my butt out from under the goose comforter to snap some pictures around the chateau in the nippy five degree morning temperature..

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Pure

Sticking with the theme of pairing back and getting back to basics, I switched up my face routine. A continuous onslaught of pimples and whiteheads had me looking for something softer on my skin. So I finally decided to give micro water a go. And guess what I love it!

It's the only cleanser/toner/remover I use. I don't even rinse as I love the way my skin feels and looks. Once in the morning and evenings, that's it. Gets rid of everything, including mascara. No stinging or burning. No residue or dryness. By far the best product I've tried. Now if it were only available in the Netherlands..

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Ark

By far the the best thing in my mailbox was an article on Est about the ark shelter. This week especially I've been in the mood of pairing back and getting back to basics. Less to do, less clutter, more recharging.

The ark shelture is small, calm and aboveall a peaceful place to get back.. to nature, to calm, to yourself. And all without sitting in a wet, cold tent made of nylon. Minimal, low-impact, stylish and efficacious.

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Browns, blues and pinks

I'm loving the vibe of organic shapes, colours and patterns. Vintage inspired and perfect for fall. These large brown mugs are the first I've bought in years with good 'old-fashioned' ears and I freakin love them! I barely put them down long enough to wash. And then came the equally organic shaped bowls, which make me now long for more rustic plates.

On my wishlist for a couple of months (waiting on a sale..) is the pink terrazzo platter, to which I now add these perfect sand cup and rests by Jono Smart. The perfect autumn table palette.

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