Friday's Fancies #41: April Showers

I was very excited about this week's Friday's Fancies theme: April Showers, even if I already know that I won't experience very many of them this year. I don't exactly know why, but it seems that Graz has such a special location, that it almost never rains here. Ever since I arrived (almost six months ago), it rained only twice! After experiencing the foggy Paris and eternally rainy Brussels, this is really a bliss for me and I couldn't be happier! No need for umbrella, no need for rain boots. But I still had so much fun putting together the perfect outfit for a rainy day. I couldn't imagine it with a feminine umbrella and, pair of flashy Hunter wellies and a waterproof mascara. However, when I saw this stunning Valentino trench, I forgot everything else. I literally died for it and I've been dreaming about it ever since. The only catch? Its (more than) hefty price tag. But these are Friday's Fancies, money are not an issue, and a girl can dream...

1. Valentino Embroidered Cotton Gabardine Trench Coat, $3490.00

2. J Brand 912 Low-rise Skinny Jeans, $180.00

3. Topshop Self Stripe Roll Sleeve Top, $50.00

4. Hunter Original Gloss Wellies in Raspberry, $125.00

5. Dorothy Perkins Black Frill Umbrella, £10.50

6. Kate Spade Posey Park Statement Necklace, $328.00

7. Kate Spade Carousel Watch, $250.00

8. L'Oréal Rouge Caresse in Cheeky Magenta

9. L'Oréal Extra Volume Collagen in Waterproof Black, $6.54

Be sure to hop over to Long Distance Loving to discover all the outfit inspiraton for a rainy day.

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French Flair

Decorating your home (whether it's a tiny studio or a huge country house) is a neverending task. Just when you thought it's done, a new piece of furniture would catch your eye in the store, you'd grow tired of your curtains or you'd find yourself wanting to repaint all your walls in bright pastels. We've been living in our apartment in Graz for a few months, and it still doesn't feel finished. I've been struggling with our guest room (which still resembles more a warehouse than a cozy retreat for our friends) and with our incredibly high ceilings (they give our place a slight French flair, but they can be a nightmare to decorate). Let's just say that when I wanted to hang my curtains, my parents had to come over for a weekend, so my dad (who is almost 2m / 6'6" tall) could do it for me. Even perched on a ladder, I'm simply unable to do it on my own. 

Since I wanted our home to have a French charm (my fiancé is French, and I've always had a crush on French decorating style), I've been scouring internet for inspiring photos and affordable options. These pictures epitomize perfectly what I want our place to be: a soft-colored, comfy and chic pad, with lots of white and touches of pastels, stylish crystal chandeliers and that certain je-ne-sais-quoi.

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Glamorous Touch: Silk Scarf

Hermés carrés

  I've been obsessed with Hermés carrés (square silk scarves) for as long as I can remember. Of course I've never owned one, because at $410 a piece, they're not exactly the most accessible accessory. But they've always been an amazing source of inspiration, with their bright colors, equestrian motifs and extreme versatility. Over the years I've built quite a collection of more affordable silk scarves that complement my everyday outfits in every possible way: I can wear them wrapped around the wrist as a bracelet, pulled through the belt loops of my skirts and trousers, as a headband or as a substitute for the rubber band in my hair. The possibilities are countless, and a pretty scarf can liven up even the most unoriginal day-to-day outfit and make it that much more glamorous. Here is the round-up of my current favorites:

1. Vera 'Ornamental Flowers' Silk Scarf, $68.00

2. Cadello Heraldic Print Scarf, $101.16

3. Forever 21 Floral Silk Scarf, $70.00

4. Kate Spade Sailor Stripe Red Silk Scarf, $100.00

5. Gucci Printed Modal and Silk-blend Scarf, $650.00

6. Kate Spade All Aboard Silk Scarf, $100.00

7. Agent Provocateur Arlene Aviation-print Silk-twil Scarf, $350.00

8. Salvatore Ferragamo White Animal and Floral Print Silk Neck Scarf, $75.00

9. Salvatore Ferragamo White Shoe Print Silk Scarf, $75.00

10. Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Printed Silk-crepe Scarf, $150.00

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White chocolate spread

Anyone who has perused the "Gourmandises" section of my blog must have understood that I have a ridiculous sweet tooth. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I'm a sugar junkie - there's nothing to do about it - my brain just doesn't work well without it. And the white chocolate has been one of my biggest weaknesses for as long as I can remember. I know that everybody is always raving about the benefits of the dark chocolate, but I've never been able to get around the bitteness of it. 70% of cocoa is all I can bear, and even that is too "sandy" for my palate. It's just not the same. On the other hand, I could eat white chocolate in every possible form, so when I found a recipe for an easy white chocolate spread, I literally squealed. 

All you need is 200g of white chocolate, 150ml of condensed milk and 50ml of whipping cream. You let all the ingredients melt over a bain-marie, pour into a jar and let cool down. Store it in the fridge and use on bread, brioche, crepes or muffins. Or, just like me, you can eat it by spoonfuls right from the jar!

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The Hunger Games Weekend

Dorothy Perkins dress (worn as tunic), Levi's Boyfriend skinny jeans, Asos shoes, Lancel "Premier Flirt" bag, Orsay sunnies, Peerless Charm necklace c/o

This was one of those amazing weekends when my to do list was miraculously empty, I had nothing special to do and nowhere to be, when I was free to do whatever I wanted and just enjoy myself. Perfection. 

On Friday night we went to see the Hunger Games and thank goodness, I was very far from being disappointed. I've been hooked on Katniss' gripping story ever since I discovered the books a year ago and I really hoped that the movie would raise to the challenge and escape what I call "Harry Potter destiny" (in my opinion, the last two HP movies were a complete disaster). Fortunately, Gary Ross has made a better job than David Yates. Maybe the movie wasn't as powerful as the books, but it was still a huge punch in the face. It got me thinking about all those reality TV "stars" who try so hard to live their 15 minutes of fame. And those producers who try to come up with a more shocking and unforgettable concept every year. We become more and more desensitized to the violence on TV and we may be closer to seeing something similar to the Hunger Games on TV than we think. And that's something really scary, isn't it? 

What about you? Have you already seen the movie? What did you think about the movie rendition of the story? Don't hesitate to share your opinion!

PS: This is what I wore to see the movie: I wasn't quite ready for any Capitol-inspired outfit!

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Friday's Fancies #40: March Madness

Spring has officially arrived and I couldn't be happier about the sunny and still warmer days. I love the fact that it's the sunshine, and not the alarm clock, that wakes us up in the morning. My winter coats and boots are already stuffed safely under the bed, waiting for their next chance to make an appearance. But I've already moved on to the spring and summer mood, and my outfits reflect that perfectly. I'm all about bright colors (like my favorite hot pink pleated skirt), breezy materials, sky-high heels for nights out and embellished ballet flats for day. For my 40th participation in Friday's Fancies I've put together a bold and colorful outfit I'd be happy to sport on a date or on a night on the town with my girlfriends. And how fabulous and glamorous are those Miu Miu heels? Even if they're far beyond my usual price range, I'm still going to dream about adding them to my shoe collection. After all, isn't the spring about new beginnings and big dreams?

1. Topshop Intricate Flower Origami Dress, $120.00

2. Rag & Bone 42nd Street Stretch-jersey Blazer, $450.00

3. Miu Miu Glitter and Crystal-embellished Suede Sandals, $990.00

4. Alexander McQueen Britannia Skull Embroidered Box Clutch, $2480.00

5. Alex Monroe 22-carat Rose Gold-plated Flower Stud Earrings, $160.00

6. L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes in Blackest Black, $8.99

7. L'Oréal Colour Riche Lip Balm in Rose Elixir, $7.99

8. L'Oréal Colour Riche Nail Color in Jet Set to Paris, $5.99

Be sure to check out all the March madness ensembles over at Long Distance Loving:

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Homemade croissants

On workdays, breakfast tends to be quite a fast and uncomplicated affair in our house. While my fiancé gets ready for work, I prepare the coffee and hot chocolate (with my eyes still glued together) and some toasts. There's never enough time to experiment and it's so easy to fall in a routine when you're in a hurry. However, since I like to shake things up a bit from time to time, this week I've decided to tackle another big project on my "to cook / to bake" list: homemade croissants. I followed a recipe similar to this one, and they proved to be even more challenging than I expected. At first, my dough didn't rise properly and the perfectionist inside me was quite embarassed. But I managed to save the day (and my reputation), and I whipped out a bunch of fluffy and buttery croissants. They weren't as perfect as the ones from a French bakery, and it'll probably require some time and experimenting to get the most amazing results, but they were still a nice departure from our typical toast-marmalade combo.
How about you? Do you have your own challenging recipe that you're trying to master?

 

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Tiffany Blue & Pink Wedding

First of all, I need to send a huge thanks to Nicole Rene, an aspiring event coordinator and a very talented and amazingly creative author of a lovely blog Nicole Rene Design. If you are looking for an inspiration for your wedding or any other important event, this should be your first choice! And I know what I'm talking about: this beautiful wedding mood board is her creation!

When Nicole approached me several weeks ago with an idea of creating a mood board for my wedding, I was beyond excited and intrigued. I must confess, I haven't had much time to think about the details of our wedding yet, even if the two major things are already ticked off the list: we've found the perfect venue, and I've found THE dress. Considering the fact that our wedding is still 14 months away, it's a huge part of stress that's been cut away. And now, thanks to Nicole's beautiful mood board, I can concentrate on choosing the color combos, flower arrangements, menu and other important details that will make our wedding special. 

I couldn't resist publishing a few photos of Nicole's designs. If you want to see more, be sure to hop over to her beautiful and inspiring blog. 

Thank you, Nicole! I wish I could hire you as my wedding planner, if only we weren't separated by the ocean :)

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