Pesto

By mid to end of September, when summer is drawing to it's end, locally grown basil plants are at their best... big, lush and beautiful. It's the perfect time to make pesto, and since I did not have much luck this year with growing my own, I bought half a dozen plants on the market instead..

To make one big jar of pesto you need:

1 big basil plant

50 gr pine kernels (1.8 oz)

100 gr hard cheese, grated (3.6 oz.I use a mix of Pecorino & Parmesan)

1 clove of garlic, crushed

salt and pepper

125 ml olive oil (1/2 cup)

First, remove the leaves from the stalks, wash them and dry

Next, grate the cheese. It can be a tiring job, especially when making several batches, so I usually get my kitchen machine to help me out..

Place all ingredients into a kitchen robot/blender, and blend to a smooth consistency. With the motor running, pour the olive oil slowly into the mix. You can use more or less oil than indicated above, depending on the consistency you like.

Fresh Pesto freezes extremely well..I usually divide the mix into several small portions and place them in freezer bags or plastic containers, so we can enjoy a wonderful taste of summer all through winter.

That night, I cooked some pasta, and fried a couple of gourgettes with some remaining pine kernels and herbes de Provence. Drained the pasta, tossed it with 3 table spoons fresh pesto and mixed with the fried courgettes. It was delicious!

Having said in my previous post how much I look forward to catching up with everyone's comments, I am really sorry that I still have not managed to do so, as I had to go abroad for a few days. Everyone's participation means a lot to me, and I am sad to have fallen behind so much.

Before leaving, I tried out a 'navy blazer wardrobe challenge' idea from a dear reader, and will hopefully manage to post a photo remotely in a couple of days.

Hopelessly behind...

This weekend was very much taken up with DS' 10th birthday celebrations. The actual day was on Saturday and the party with friends today, which is why I am very much behind on catching up with comments, emails and posts.

Loved reading everyone's comments on the last couple of posts, and look forward to a tranquil time tomorrow, getting back in touch.

Scarf: Capitales Twilly
Scarf ring: MaiTai Collection, petite size in honey

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Capsule wardrobe #19 - Style challenge navy blazer

As many of you may know, I very much enjoy exchanges and taking requests, and so I was really pleased when I got an email a couple of days ago with a style challenge.

The question was how to accessorize a navy blazer to get a casual, not business-like look.

I love wearing blue, and it was a fun process to put together an outfit. For the basics, I chose a tank top with a deep neckline, and a 3/4 length pair of jeans. Both are capsule pieces, and their cut and material very casual, hereby already avoiding an association with a business outfit or working uniform.




Next, the accessories. While a silk scarf is a perfect companion to a business look, it can just as easily go casual. Here the bright and happy colors, in combination with a more flamboyant version of the criss-cross knot, give the scarf a nonchalant appeal. The bracelet adds another little splash of color, while the look of the necklace worn in a single long strand emphasizes further the overall casual look.

Style Challenge: Navy blazer
Capsule pieces: ecru 3/4 length jeans and a cream tank top
Shoes:Two-toned ballet flats
Accessories: Tours de Clés 70 Carré, Farandole necklace, Bleu de Prusse Bolide 31, and Clic-Clac bracelet in Bleu Indiens.
Scarf ring: MT Collection, Moyenne Classique
Scarf tying method: Criss-cross knot (click here for a how-to), one end left longer than the other


I enjoyed this so much that I had a hard time choosing just one look and thought it would be fun to get a few more navy blazer style sheets together over time.

It could even be the start of a new series, taking on different style challenges and then finding a few different looks for each. What do you think, ladies? If you have any challenges in your mind, I would love to hear them. You could tell me about them in the comments box below, or drop me an email at maitaicollection@orange.fr

Garden Party joys continued..

Carrying the beautiful GP again today, with a slight variation of yesterday's outfit. Chocolate jersey shirt instead of the sweater, chocolate belt strap and Muse buckle, with the Twilly in the basic slice, instead of the criss cross knot.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!


Close up of scarf tying

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Garden Party joys

Please welcome the newest member to my H family, Ms Garden Party!

I've been wanting a light weight canvas bag for the longest time, and then an H angel came (actually, two of them) and scored one for me at the summer sale, such an amazing coup! I am completely over the moon, and grateful forever.

To celebrate, wearing all chocolate and beige... the capsule 3/4 length Jeans, a chocolate cotton sweater, Bolduc au Carré Twilly in a criss-cross knot, petite scarf ring in honey, Elephant and Torana bangles, and bi-colored ballet flats.


Specs: Garden Party MM size, toile so H, in cocaon/ecru

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Paris - Repetto

Last week, I strolled through the Rue de la Paix, a small street connecting the Place Vendôme and the Opéra National de Paris.

In No 22 you find 'Repetto', a true haven for lovers of ballet flats. It was there when Rose Repetto started to make her famous half pointed ballet dancing shoes in 1947, supplying the dancers of the nearby opera house. A few years later, she invented the ballet flat (ballerina). They became almost instantly famous, and are adored to this day, for their simple elegance and chic.

The boutique is lit by crystal chandeliers, and it's walls are covered with high shelves full of pointed ballet shoes, tutus and all sorts of ballet supplies.

The collection of ballet flats is fanned out on low round tables, resembling the circle shape of a tutu. Each collection is limited, and each shoe is made in the traditional way (outside stitching and return technique) and finished off by hand.

I fell in love with this gorgeous pair, a wonderful mix of floral and animal print. Love the packaging too, so pretty and adorable!


Repetto
22, rue de la Paix
75002 Paris
Tel: + 33 1 44 71 83 20

Capsule wardrobe #18 - A hint of autumn in the air

The capsule wardrobe series is one of my favourites on this blog. I have always been convinced that accessories 'make a look', but it is through this series that I realize just how much a wardrobe gets maximised by slight variations of the basic pieces, or minimal changes of accessories. It is truly a fun and satisfying process to find ever changing new looks and combinations, much like playing with a kaleidosope.

Today wearing the purple knitted top from a couple of days ago, back then it was framed by jeans and a scarf in matching colours..

..this morning, we had a hint of autumn in the air, so framing it with darker colors (khaki colored trousers and khaki cardie) while wearing the scarf as an accent. Scarf knot and basic accessories like in the previous post.

Capsules: beige/purple tank top, khaki cotton trousers and khaki cardigan
Shoes: bi-color ballet flats
Accessories: Coaching 70 Carré, Ebene Kelly and MT collection horn bracelet
Scarf tying method: Snowball knot. Click here or on the thumbnail below for a how-to
Scarf ring: MaiTai Collection, honey moyenne

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FSH autumn update - September 2010

The refurbishment of FSH's bag, saddle and scarf department is completed, and the temporary boards which blocked the shop windows along the Rue Boissy d'Anglas' were removed. I almost missed seeing the boards, as I loved the beautiful drawings of Philippe Dumas which covered them. But the splendor of the window displays made more than up for it.. the richness and creativity are simply breathtaking, and makes one long for cool and crisp autumn days!

 

 

Lime and chocolate, with a painted canvas Picotin and peacock feather Mini Kelly

 

 

 

Two 'Grand Apparats' from the SS2010 collection (orig. design Jaques Eudel 1962) fluttering against Paris' clear blue September sky

Capsule wardrobe #17 and Snowball knot how-to

Even though the mornings have now a promise of autumn in the air, we are back to summery temperatures by midday. So still enjoying wearing white, but adding some warm and dark colors, to go with the change of atmosphere as summer is drawing towards it's end. The white scarf ties the outfit together, no matter which color the top, while the rest of the accessories stay in one color family, hereby framing the entire look.

Capsules: beige/purple tank top and white jeans
Shoes: dark brown suede loafers
Accessories: Châines et Gourmettes 70 Carré, Ebene Kelly and horn bracelet
Scarf tying method: Snowball knot
Scarf ring: MT Collection, black moyenne





Snowball knot how-to:



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