Saturday, November 28th.

On Wednesday morning I was lucky enough to be invited to a preview of the UK's newest Urban Outfitters in Edinburgh along with my fellow Edinburgh based blogger, Hannah from Hello Mr Fox.

The store is self is huge, spread out over three floors with some of the best Visual Merchandising I've seen. All of the installation ( I need to apologise here because my pictures of them were too dark to put up but Hannah has some on her blog so go over and have a look) pieces were made by the in store VM's from pieces salvaged in and around Edinburgh. I love that, its so important to support your local economy! The same goes for the paraphernalia that decorates the store, all sourced from local antique and vintage shops.

But above all else there is the clothes... climb the stairs to the top floor and you enter my idea of heaven. A shoe and lounge area that looks like its straight out of an episode of Mad Men and the Edinburgh home of t.b.a, Luella, Jeffery Campbell as well as Kimich & Blue and Silence and Noise. An iron bedstead would have fit the decor nicely and I could have just moved in.

There is only one downside to UO moving into my hometown and it is this - my bank balance is seriously doomed. Luckily for me I was given a few lovely, ever so wearable gifts to take home. I'm afraid I just can't hold it in any longer, I am now the proud owner of a t.b.a, scalloped edge, dress! Pictures to follow, I promise. I know you'll all sympathise with me when I complain about the waning light that winter brings us and the problems it causes when taking outfit pictures. Wah wah wah.

I really must say a massive thank you to Stephanie from UO, she made me feel so welcome, while we chatted blogging, tattoos and the demise of Luella. Stephanie, you really are the sweetest, Thank You!

Urban Outfitters, Edinburgh!

This week the well dressed people of Edinburgh will be given an early Christmas gift. Urban Outfitters will open a shiny new store on Princes Street. Number 124 to be precise.

Although the store officially opens on Friday, 27th November, there will be a preview party on the Wednesday 25th (2pm to 9pm) with drinks, music and 20% student discount. Amazing, right? You don't need to ask me twice.



Here are my favourites from the store

I can't even put my love for this t.b.a dress into words. It's pure perfection and its top of my Christmas list. The same goes for this pair of Seychelles Lace ups if I wasn't on a self enforced shoe buying ban, I would have these immediately.
Spooning with Rosie This is one of my favourite cookery books, full of scrumptious recipies from her days studying in Edinburgh, Traveling and most importantly what to eat after a great night out.
As for this Diana KitI think if I were to own it I may well give up using my Nikon all together. Ok, maybe not really but it would be so much fun.

Spotted: On the Constance Billard Steps

You are either a Blair or a Serena. This has nothing at all to do with hair colour. You either meticulously plan your outfits or you grab whatever comes to hand but still manage to look amazing. The Blair plans in advance and colour coordinates, while The Serena impulse buys and wears whatever takes her fancy.

I'm a Blair. I need control of my wardrobe, I need pre-planning and I need choices. I like everything to match, perhaps a little too much.

This is my homage to Miss Waldorf (really its to Eric Daman, the costume designer). I think it would have been truer to the character if I'd added coloured tights and a huge bow hairband but thats just not me.

This blouse is my newest and favourite find from Fearne Cotton for Very. Its exactly what I've been searching for, I think it was made to be worn with this wool pinafore and these brogues.
Winter has well and truly set in up here in Scotland. To keep warm I've been wearing this with a huge black beret, my navy TBA Coat, a really long black scarf and woolen mittens. All I want now is a little snow.


Do tell, are you a Serena or a Blair?

A Thoroughly British Hat

When I think of all things quintessentially British, we have Tea and Sympathy, Red pillar boxes, Black London Cabs, Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy, Washed out Summers, Victoria and Albert, Crumpets and jam, Stephen Fry, A Stiff Upper Lip, Cadburys Chocolate and The Bowler Hat.

What I truly love about the bowler hat is it's versatility. On one side it is formal and sincere like Winston Churchill but on the other it is silly and mischievous like Charlie Chaplin. Dress it up or dress it down, the bowler hat will always be delightfully stylish.

I have two (the dog ate my first one. No, seriously!) crisp and undented for smart and slightly bashed, shabby and dog eaten for, well... shabby and dog eaten. I just can't get enough of them


What do you think is quintessentially British and what will be adoring your head this winter?

Toffee Apple Pie

I can't believe I haven't posted in almost a month. Shame on me. I've been busy, busy with course work and ill with a nasty cold. Then I was in London for a fleeting weekend, with a stop in Newcastle for Sunday Lunch and a convoluted train journey home. Now I'm on holiday from school and I'm snowed under with a project my beau and I are working on.

When the time comes I will explain why I have stopped posting anything food related but I can't divulge any more for fear of my nearest and dearest reading it.


There is nothing that screams Autumn more than that a home baked Apple Pie on a cold, blustery evening. I had the idea of adding a little toffee sauce for a grown up take on the Hallowe'en Toffee Apple and it I must say it worked out rather well.







Pastry
50g cold butter, cubed
50g Vegetable shortening
250g plain flour
50g finely grated cheddar
1 large Egg, beaten.
Cold Milk
1 tsp baking powder

23cm Springfrom tin, greased.


Filling
1kg Cox, Braeburn or Spartan Apples, peeled, cored and chopped.
500g Bramley Apples, peeled, cored, roughly chopped up.
40g butter
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 a nutmeg
2 large Eggs

Toffee Sauce
100g unsalted butter
100g light muscovado sugar
4 tbsp golden syrup
4 tbsp double cream

1. To make the pastry rub the fats into the flour and baking powder, once the mixture resembles breadcrumbs, mix in the cheddar. Add the egg and a splash of milk to bind. Don’t be afraid to knead this pasty a little until it comes together, thanks to the raising agent it won’t affect the over all texture later on. Separate into two rounds one slightly bigger than the other and chill for half an hour.

2. Fry the bramleys in 20g of the butter until they soften and loose their shape. Using a potato masher, mash the softened apples and mix in half of the cinnamon and nutmeg.

3. In a small pan, slowly heat the butter, sugar and golden syrup for the toffee sauce, bring the mixture to the boil constantly stirring. Reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minuets or until thickened. Stir in the cream and add to the mashed apples. Once cool, mix in the eggs.

4. Fry the remaining kilogram of apples in the remaining butter for a few minutes, they should be cooked but still retaining their shape. Stir in the remaining spices.

5.Roll out the chilled pastry and line the springform tin, leave the excess hanging over the outer edges. Pour in the mashed apple mixture first then add the sliced apples. Cover with a pastry lid and crimp the edges. Bake for 15 minutes at 220°c then reduce to 180°c for a further 30 minutes. Leave to cool slightly before attempting to remove from the tin.

This recipe was adapted from Nigella Lawson's Double Apple Pie from How to be a Domestic Goddess.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

A few posts back I promised to post a clearer photograph of my favourite shoes (forth from the top). These go with everything, I would be cast adrift without them. Well, maybe not but I would be one sad girl.

I seem to have developed a little bit of a brogue obsession and there is the proof. I keep spying pair upon pair of perfect round toe, lace up, block heeled beautiful brogues. Each one prettier than that last (New Look, Topshop and Office have pairs to cry for) but, as you can see, I just do not have enough room in my wardorbe for any more. It reached capacity long ago and there are only so many near identical shoes a girl can justify owning. I shall march on regardless.

What will be adorning your feet this autumn?