My Fair London – Red Brick Buildings

Friday 30 September 2011

It feels like forever since I last did a London post! Luckily summer has decided to finally grace us with her presence and we are in the middle of a heat-wave which means I have been able to get out and take some pictures! Since I am a lazy ass, I didn’t venture very far, instead I took some photos of the beautiful red brick buildings around the corner from me in Sloane Square. I know I say “you absolutely have to do this if you visit London” a lot but seriously, you can’t miss this neighbourhood! Take a wonder off the ridiculously crowded King’s Road and walk around the neighbourhood and just take it all in! Here’s what you’re missing…
Read about my London adventures here
All images via Wishful Thinking



Rice Pudding Soufflé

Thursday 29 September 2011

A few years ago, we went out for dinner at a very fancy restaurant and had the most amazing dessert - rice pudding soufflé. Needless to say, this pudding ended up in my hall of fame. My guy somehow managed to nab the recipe and attempted to make his first soufflé. I had heard that soufflés are difficult and temperamental but it was so simple to make and it turned out beautifully! (I have joked that if my bf can make this, then anyone can!) We have tweaked it a bit over the years to our taste (I prefer it to be more ricey than the recipe) but this is something you can play around with. Don't forget to top it off with some vanilla ice-cream!

What you will need: (makes 2 big soufflés or 4 little ones)

  • 75g short grain pudding rice
  • 250ml whole fat milk (we just use semi skimmed but it’s up to you)
  • 80g egg whites (about 3 eggs but it depends on their size)
  • 50g castor sugar
  • butter for greasing the ramekins

Start with the base by cooking the rice in the milk (covered with a double layer of clingfilm) over a Bain Marie for 45 mins. Once cooked, leave the rice to cool.

Separate the eggs and discard the yolk.

Step3Add the castor sugar to the egg whites and whisk to reach a stiff peak.

Butter the ramekins twice. (The recipe says to do this before whisking the egg whites but we always forget and it still turns out fine).

After the second buttering, coat the ramekins in a fine layer of castor sugar.

Fold in a third of the egg white into the rice base making sure that the rice is properly mixed in the egg whites. Once mixed, gently fold in the rest.

Spoon into the ramekins (don’t press it down but make sure that the whole ramekin is filled).

It should look a little something like this! Bake at 180 degrees for 8-10 mins. (If you have opted for the bigger ones, cook for closer to 10 mins).

Serve with vanilla ice-cream and prepared to be amazed!

The Perfect Room!

Wednesday 28 September 2011

My inspiration folders, bookcases, pinterest boards and desk are filled to bursting with beautiful interiors and fashion. I just can’t help myself, if it’s pretty and appeals to me, I have to find some way of seeing it as often as possible. I really want to share the image that I go back to repeatedly in my mind. Take a look at the stunning dining room from Jamie Meares, author of one of my favourite blogs: I Suwanee. I picture myself sitting in this beautiful dining room – sometimes with a group of friends drinking wine and eating delicious food – sometimes alone with a bowl of cereal and the morning paper. Yep, I could be very comfortable here! (The only difference is that if this was my dining room, the plant in the corner wouldn’t be looking so alive)! Do you visualise yourself in your perfect room too? Weird or perfectly normal?

jam101120-J Meares for High GlossImage credit: I Suwanee

The Tourist

Tuesday 27 September 2011

New York_edited-1NY images found here, here, here, here and here.

No not that stupid movie. Se moi! It’s now matter of hours (ok days) until I touch down in New York. Since we plan on doing a lot bit of shopping, I am having to be a savvy packer in order to leave enough room in my suitcase. Sightseeing tourist clothes are difficult to pick out, you want to be comfortable, warm/cool and stylish for all your touristy photos. My essentials are comfortable shoes (I find Converse the best and most lightweight), a smart jacket for throwing on for dinner, a comfortable slouchy backpack and very comfortable jeans, coat and t-shirt (note the emphasis on comfortable!) What are your tourist essentials?

The Tourist Outfit_edited-2Jacket; top; backpack; scarf; jeans;  coat; belt; sunglasseswatch; camera; shoes

We need to talk…

Monday 26 September 2011

For the past couple of months I have been feeling a bit of ‘bloggers block’. You know the kind? I have felt uninspired and a little stressed out.. and if I am truly honest, I sometimes feel like I spend so much time catching up on other fabulous blogs that I sort of loose interest in my little ol’ blog. So faced with a bit of a dilemma, I decided the take a week off. (Luckily I left you with some pretty pictures of Prague to look at for a week!) I took some time to get inspired again and reassess exactly what I want out of my blog. I couldn’t help myself and did peak at a few blogs during my ‘holiday’ but I really surprised myself by how much I missed blogging! So consider me more inspired and firmly back on the scene. Hopefully I can inspire you this morning with some beautiful pictures I took in the gardens of Hever Castle in Kent over the weekend…

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All images via Wishful Thinking

Have I told you about Prague?

Thursday 15 September 2011

Prague. This was not your average tourist destination a few years ago. I honestly didn’t know too much about this city except that they used to be communist – I think it was ultimately this mystery that had me longing to visit! I spent 4 wonderful days there in November last year and I was quite happy to come home, pack up the house and move over there permanently. My favourite memory of Prague is sitting in a dark smoky cafe eating hot stew and drinking Czech beer watching the trams rattle by with snow starting to fall lazily outside. I often go back to that day in my head…

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All images via Wishful Thinking

Botlierskop Game Reserve

Wednesday 14 September 2011

I have been on the look-out for some killer honeymoon destinations that won’t bankrupt us. Don’t get too excited though, unfortunately this is not one of those destinations. This one is a little on the pricey side but you get some serious luxury for your buck! Nestled in the mountains not too far away from my home town of George, South Africa, the Botlierskop Game Reserve seems to have it all. I can almost smell the fresh crisp mountain air through these photos! Would this be your ideal honeymoon destination or would you prefer bricks and mortar luxury combined with sun, sea and sand?

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Believe it or not, this is the inside of a tent!

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Here are just a few of the activities available… (don’t they look freakishly calm sitting amongst giant elephants?)

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All images via Botlierskop Game Reserve

Simplistic Beauty!

Tuesday 13 September 2011

I'm keeping it simple today because I feel this magnificent (now there's a word that is not used enough) lamp needs a blog post all to itself! 

Pow! Here it is!

lauren kitchen lighting
Source unknown. Please email me if you know where this image came from.

Do you like it? Yes? Then you’ll love this:
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Image found here.

How about the other way around?
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Image found here

That is all! Have a good Tuesday!

Kiwi Spirit!

Monday 12 September 2011

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It was the start of the Rugby World Cup this weekend and since we take rugby very seriously in our house, you can bet that we were up at 7am bleary eyed and groggy but cheering on our teams nonetheless (apologies to my neighbours, we will try and keep it down next weekend). I have really enjoyed watching the spirit and culture of the New Zealand people - what a wonderful event to host, especially after the earthquakes that devastated the country earlier this year. Keeping with the Kiwi spirit, I thought I would post about a beautiful house designed by Aukland based Herbst Architects. Apparently the site proposed a particular challenge as 90% of it was covered in mature pohutukawa trees. It is now nestled amongst the dense trees and completely looks like it belongs there!

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All images via Herbst Architects