Macarons....

recently at work a Pierre Herme macaron bar opened to much excitement. These gastronomic delights have only been available in Paris or Tokyo prior to this. Obviously the other big name in these little delicacies is Laduree, who have a shop in the big green shop across the park!... having tasted both I'm definitely Team Herme!

As my working hours are much the same as the last time i posted ( hence the lack of posting!) up at 4am, at desk by 6.30 and still there at least 12 hours later, I've been a little stressed!

How happy was I then,that these four little delights were sitting on my desk this morning courtesy of my boss. (you have to keep a girl sweet to be at her desk on a Saturday, especially when Johnny is running round a rugby field with his thighs out!)

They were very yummy, flavours are:

Y Brown ~ Double Chocolate

Y Cream & Green ~ Green Tea & Black sesame

Y Yellow & Brown ~ Passionfruit & Chocolate

Y Peach ~ Quince Rose

have a great weekend... will update you more next week, Tx

7 sweet wishes.... for a special little lady

Today is my darling niece's 7th birthday, she is very excited!... I can't believe that she is 7, (going on 70!)... as it's half term this week, her diary is very full!. She had a birthday party on Saturday with 30 chums, jelly & ice-cream all round an then a few days away with mummy, daddy & big bruv.

At the age of 7 she is dolly obsessed... Christmas saw Father Christmas deliver twin babies for her to love, a boy & a girl just like Daddy and Auntie T, accompanied by a new pram.

For her birthday I wanted to make her something special, so I've had a go at my first patchwork quilt for said dolly's!.... It's a little memory quilt, with photographs of Libs over the last 7 years.

I've used some bright sunny fabrics (remnants from Laura Ashley.)

Here is a little close up:

Happy Birthday Libby.... have a fantastic day. Hugs & Kisses Auntie Tx

what do you have on yours?

sugar? lemon?.... chocolate sauce?..... I am of course referring to pancakes!

My Nan made the best pancakes in the world, and pancake day guaranteed a visit from all the grandchildren, who just happened to be passing!... A never ending supply of pancake mix sat by the stove on shrove tuesday, with her happily cooking away.... my favourite was always thick pancakes with sultanas, drizzled in lemon & sugar... mmmmm....

have a flippin fantastic pancake day!

Valentine's Day...

Y hugs a kisses to all..... today i will be spending the day with these!.... Patrick Dempsey, Eric Dane & Bradley Cooper! (alas only on the big screen... well a girl can dream can't she!)

I am of course referring to the new movie Valentine's Day,... trailer here.

If you can't get to the cinema and fancy a fun Valentine's movie at home, then check out I Hate Valentine's Day, which is a great little chick flick, seeing the coupling of Nia Vardalos & John Corbett (Aiden in S&TC) previously seen together in My Big fat Greek wedding.... trailer here

I will also be chilling on the sofa with reading this fantastic book. Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani. I started it yesterday on the train home from work and I'm loving it... synopsis is very spooky to me, girl in her 30's, moves in with 80 year old grandma to care for her, in a house on Perry street (I have a particular infinity with perry street as that was where my gramps grew up) alas I'm not making bespoke wedding shoes in a brownstone in Greenwich Village!... I Y 'd Adriana's Lucia Lucia which is in my Top 5 book list... this one is a close 2nd to it at the moment.

Hope you all have a lovely Valentine's Day what ever your plans are I hope that they are with those that you love...Here are a few pictures of Valentines day in London... Hugs Teresa YXYXYXY

Memory Windows

As I am currently spending most of my life at work at the moment. (alarm rings at 4am, bus to station at 4.55am at desk 6am!..... earliest time home this week 8.15pm)............ I thought I would share with you what I walk past each morning, which I have named my Memory Windows....
They heavily evoke nostalgic,childhood innocence, ~ think makeshift playroom tents comprised of hodgepodge quilts, an English country kitchen brimming with jars of old-fashioned sweets and copper kettles and a garden shed stocked with chopped firewood and kegs of orchard apples, my absolute Ideal! the latest display revels in life’s simple pleasures and the humble, comforting feeling of your own home.

Large-scale slogans are interspersed amongst the stores wide-ranging merchandise, all offering heartening words. Think of it as an alternative manifesto for life. The cheerful window messages are full of ‘tips’ on how to create little moments of pure happiness and appreciate the small things in life. I defy anyone not to walk past and it not take them back to their childhood!.... now where are the penny sweets!

click on Picture for more detail... if they inspire you, please leave a comment and let me know!

here are a few of my favourite blocks....

Baking, Buttons & Blankets.... and a very cute Radio!

Up in the Air....

is how my life has been of late. Thankyou for the comments & messages concerning my welfare... I'm ok, work has taken over my life! .... January is always a month that I write off for any form of life other than work... Sale/LOTS of Stocktakes and Financial Year End all in 4 weeks is a nightmare... every year I think I'm prepared for it and every year it gets a little more stressful..... hence the lack of blogging. I've worked the last 3 sunday's just to keep on top of the admin and get some peace in the office!... long hours and late nights.... all I can say is thank god for Cornflakes, as they have been my staple dinner for the last few weeks!

Thinking that once Feb arrived the pressure would ease slightly.... oh no!!... 2 huge projects landed on my desk Monday, one that has to be planned, executed and actioned by end of feb!.....

Thankfully I do have a great friend, who completely gets the work pressure and just organises things... hence a trip to the cinema to see the most gorgeous George Clooney. This film is not a 'chick-flick'... however George naked under a sumptuous white duvet is incredibly pleasing on the eye!

This film really struck a chord with me, and could quite easily mirror my life.....here is the trailer I really enjoyed this film.... much deserves the award nominations its getting....

As you can see i've posted another collage of my NY pics... these are "Up in the Air" on top of the Rockefeller Centre ~ Top of The Rock watching the sun rise!

I promise to get round to everyone's blogs soon....hugs Tx

40 birthday wishes to my fab friend!...

Today is one of my oldest friends, Karen, 40th Birthday!....

Happy Birthday my dear have a truly fabulous day.

Karen & ! have been friends since playschool days...

We spent the day together Monday, for lunch and a catch-up, due to my nightmare working schedule we hadn't seen each other since before my trip to New York.

Along with a Cath Kidston bag filled with treats I put together this book in place of a card......

Have a fantabulous birthday.... and here's to another 40 fab years!

hugs Tx