Aalto vase

I'm completely smitten with this Alvar Aalto Savoy vase in purple and white by Iittala.

Pancake Day

It's Shrove Tuesday, so after supper I kept to tradition and made pancakes. I followed the classic pancake recipe from Breakfast Lunch Tea, Rose Bakery which produced a thicker American style pancake batter that is super, super light when cooked.

Green and Black's hazelnut chocolate spread for P, sugar with lemon for me. They were delicious!

Happy Birthday Mum

Today my Mum turns 60... she doesn't look at all like she's reached this milestone, but she has.

My brother and I arranged a weekend in the Cotswolds for our family and, despite the time of year, have had a few days of glorious sunshine in the countryside.

My Mum and my boy

Happy Birthday Mum x

Red Velvet

I thought that Red Velvet cupcakes were an appropriate treat to make today for my Valentine.

I followed the Magnolia Bakery recipe for the cake, but made my own cream cheese frosting because I wasn't keen on the idea of making their frosting with flour.

They're absolutely delicious... just as well I made so many of them!

Valentine

From me to P...

From P to me...

Daylesford Organic sweet treats... dark chocolate shortbread hearts and fairtrade milk chocolate from Peru.

Perfect pink Diptyque roses.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Lost treasure

Many years ago I had a small folding red tartan suitcase, which at the time was very old fashioned, but I absolutely loved it.  I remember thinking that it was a perfect piece of functional design and couldn't understand why they would have fallen out of fashion.

I've had no luck finding another one recently... however have come across this perfect Le Pilage substitute from Longchamp...

UPDATE... Take a look at the imps & elfs TravelType #2 short film 'The Pessimist'... THEY HAVE MY RED TARTAN FOLDING SUITCASE!!!

Home Sweet Home

It's so lovely to be home... Not as much as I've just left behind, but I love to see our deck covered with a fresh layer of snow. It doesn't happen very often.

More photos from my snowy walk in the Davos sunshine yesterday...