Planes, trains & automobiles

Okay so today it's just trains as I travel to what is always referred to by some 'as the real capital'; Cork.
Sadly a trip for business rather than pleasure. I am sitting on the train in my comfy seat excited to visit a county that I have only been to once, as a child. (An horrific experience purely for one simple memory - going on the usual must have tour of Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone; legend says if you kiss this stone you get the gift of the gab. Well all I got was panic stricken - I was never good with heights so having to climb the steps to the top, lean back practically suspended with an acrobatic manoeuvre to kiss this stone had my stomach in knot's, it didn't help that on said day it turned grey and windy just as we arrived and I had selected a pretty dress (courtesy of Laura Ashley) and jumper to wear - cut to many shrieks from me as I worried I was flashing unsuspecting tourists - so that's nil points to Cork)
I am sure I won't be forced to do any acrobatics's (fingers crossed) so I am hoping this experience will be much nicer.
There is something therapeutic about travelling by train. One reason I love this mode of transport is because of my Grandad Paddy. Paddy was a train driver on the Dublin/Belfast route - so instantly a mention of a train gives my face a beaming smile.
Second reason: I personally feel it is far more glamorous than air travel.
Well anyone who watched Some Like It Hot and remembers the beautiful Marilyn Monroe as she tottered along the platform in her uber tight, curve enhancing dress will agree. As this vision approaches the train, all eyes are on her (with the exception of a comedy element when a cloud of steam stops her in her elegant tracks) she is perfection.



Of course If I was trying to recreate this look I would achieve something more memorable of Carrie in SATC. She too had the romantic notions of train travel - but all she was left with was a pimple, a cabin you couldn't swing a cat in and a first class flight home. This is confirmed when some time ago I was woken from my sleep dribbling on my hand...oh the glamour Marilyn :)

Must have items for my train journey

Magazines, water & coffee

On arrival a glass of pinot grigio, some thai cuisine..and

I'm off to bed

These are some of my favourite things...

Fab installations of

Hermes & Alex Mc Q Scarves

 

These are lights I would lurrrrve on a dancefloor..

comfy but very sparkly brogues

Skull top from The Kooples

Hair Crush: Caroline Flack

A new Marc by Marc Jacobs laptop cover

brightens up the room on a winters day

Christmas lights in Dublin...

Windows depicting Swan Lake.....

Night night

Ali

x

Rain rain go away...

Oh the rain has returned to Dublin...why did I wear ballet flats to work..leaving me confined to my desk!
I braved the slippy street to pop up the road to grab a coffee and have a look at the Versace for H&M launch. Wiping the raindrops off my coat and taking the escalator to the 'pen' area i was greeted by empty rails (bar one wall of possibly three styles of SUPER BRIGHT dresses) and a table with some shoes, belts and books. It was as if I was walking from Autumn straight into Spring 2012 - way too Miami for my liking and after last seasons Lanvin collaboration I was left feeling a little let down. (Speaks volumes when I didn't even have the urge to take a picture)

I have been looking on other sites which had footage from the UK stores and it looked like pure fashion carnage...maybe us Irish just aren't into the blonde bombshell! I am sure tomorrow morning alot of people will wake up with shoppers remorse* and realise that the neon pink studded leather dress wasn't such a good buy :)

*Okay I lie there was a pair of these strappy heels - in my size 5 in black - that I was close to buying but my foot drenched ballet flats made me realise that a pair of wellies would be a better investment 

The rain last night did have some reason to celebrate though. Throwing on my big comfy dressing gown, I jumped into bed for a blogfest and came across this little beauty on the ever inspiring www.llymlrs.com/ - at first I was afraid to check the price of this fab pleated black leather skirt, thinking it could be The Kooples or Acne...but to my delight it was PRIMARK or Penneys as us Irish call it.

So this morning with a bounce in my step I boarded the bus early and hit Penney's just as the doors opened at 8.30...by 8.31 I was happily strolling the short walk over the Liffey to my office swinging my new purchase in a bag!
I have to say I was worried it would look plastic but it is amazing quality...for only €15..my sister is already saying she will need to take a trip to purchase one too!

These are some of my favourite things...various versions of taupe

My clutch needs this party palette from Bobbi Brown

Lusting after this fur gilet from Zara..the girl in work rocks it

 (I tell her to keep her eye on it as I may 'borrow' it)

Christening gift for Sunday...

love the scalloped neck line

This weeks hidden gem....

Yum Thai Noodle Bar

Myself and the boyfriend love this place, we sometimes drive into the city to pick it up - no delivery service - but it's worth it, for the funky boxes, dellish menu (I can highly recommend the chicken green thai curry or the pad thai noodles) and the fact it's another cheap & cheerful find!

Santa Baby...

The time of year has arrived that we all mentally do 'Christmas Wish Lists' - admit it! I see my nieces and nephews, with serious concentration (tongues hanging peeking out of the sides of their mouths) write their lists..changing them regularly over a couple of days ...much to the annoyance of their parents & of course Santa :)

As a child I put a lot of thought into what deserved inclusion on my lists before properly 'signing them off' in time for Christmas. Over the years I had various must haves, as a child Barbie was always up at the top, oh she had a great life. No wonder I am so disillusioned 'But I thought all girls grew up to have a white sports car' - Barbie lived in a dream home with a walk in wardrobe bursting full of clothes (I'm not quite sure what she did for a living but she earned a hell of a lot of money to buy a lot of frivolous items. Come to think of it judging by her collection of patent boots, metallic short skirts or drain pipe sprayed on trousers and cocktail dresses - I am starting to think old Bab's may have been...how do I put this nicely 'A Lady of ze Night' WINK WINK)

I lived in this dreamworld where Barbie would throw on one of her ridiculous OTT ensembles, jump in her sports car and whizz around the city (or my parents dining room) - for weekends she would 'rough it' in her mobile home, pink of course complete with en suite and full kitchen - though I doubt she got much use out of that (my Barbie had an invisible chef you see).

Now when I think of my beloved Barbie I think of her with disdain. Oh I too thought I would grow up to live in the lifestyle I had so (imaginarily) become accustomed to. This Christmas if either of my nieces are playing with Barbie's I feel it is my duty to inform them that it's a recession and Barbie should downsize maybe not get the sports car and go for something more practical...I just couldn't bear to see another child's dreams shattered :)

These are some of my favourite things...

Alex Monroe & feathers...beautiful

 Topshop Allegra boots

my non purchase regret...investing for xmas

My style crush; Sunday Girl

This sweet rope ring..sometimes simplicity is best

Baking!

my rocky road bites were demolished by the girls in my office

so need to get creative in the kitchen again!

And finally....

Ali's Rocky Road Bites

*An easy peasy (naughty but oh so nice) treat you can whip up in a couple of minutes*

Ingredients

125g unsalted butter

300g Cadbury's Milk Chocolate (broken into pieces)

3 Tbsp Golden Syrup

200g Cadburys Shortbread Biscuits (broken, but remember to leave some chunks)

100g Mini Marshmallows (would normally use pink & white but only had white in cupboard)

Icing sugar

Pop your butter, syrup and chocolate in a pan and put on a low heat, stirring

Put your broken biscuits into a bowl

When the pan contents are almost melted add the marshmallows in, whip off the stove and fold most of mixture into the biscuits - be sure to leave some choc mix in the pan

When biscuits are fully covered in the mix, pour into an ovenproof dish, flatten the mixture with a wet spatula

When nice and flat pour the remainder of the pan over the biscuit mix and spread with the wet spatula (doesn't have to be perfect looking hence the name)

I left mine to refrigerate overnight and finished with a dusting of icing sugar.

*When I produced these in work the girls raced to have one! While I accompanied mine with a creamy Nespresso from our kitchen.

Happy Baking

Ali x

The countdown is on to my night of pampering. With boyfriend out I can't wait to take over the apartment...light scented candles (no jo malone until pay day so will have to go for IKEA's best), put on a nice girlie flick or maybe some vintage SATC, use my brand spanking new glitter polish and jump into bed with this weeks Grazia....
Oh it's the simple pleasures in life that I adore!

These are some of my favourite things...

Fashion that's good enough to eat

Bodice made of macaroons

Heather for your Heart...

Italian glam arrives in Dublin @ H&M

Check out the 'tude on these blondes

Have the urge to queue for these shoes from Donnatella

A dream garden...lined with jo malone

Diane's autobiography landed on my desk,

have to add to my reading list...

I seem to have caught the glitter bug

Part of tonights activities
....ingredients for Rocky Roads



Will show you how it works out tomo...fingers crossed :)

(& give you my recipe too)

Night night

Ali

x



 

Oh what a night....

I can't believe the weekend has come and gone once again. I was in Miss Social mode. So there was no lovely cooking in my kitchen(which I have been neglecting a lot recently and actually come to think of it the whole apartment is in need of TLC - Memo to self: purchase some pretty flowers for instant pick me up) there was no TV watching and there was very little shopping. So I dragged my poor feet into work this morning feeling tired and emotional wishing this weekend would fast approach.My social life is always a feast or famine. No happy medium. So since the start of November I have been catapulted into the party season. To be honest my friends have the tendency to create any reason to have a party. This weekend I had three very different parties to attend but all as much fun as the next.

Friday Night
Venue: The Boyfriends* mates apartment
Reason: Ireland playing Estonia in some very important football qualifier
(*Boyfriend had deserted me for Tallinn, Estonia with his motley crew of friends, father and brother to spend 19 short hours drinking beer, watching the match, singing Irish songs, dissecting the history of Irish Football and eating (from what I heard) a hell of a lot of hot dogs)

I was exhausted from work and tempted to just go home, lock the door and remain on the couch in the hope that by some miracle my dinner would cook itself. But feeling like I deserved a nice cold beverage and knowing it wasn't acceptable to drink alone I jumped in the shower, threw my hair up in a bun, wore my most comfiest jumper (Zara Beige Waffle knit, recent purchase and perfect for lounging) a pair of skinny jeans and my trusty leopard loafers grabbed my Celine shopper and went back out the door that ten minutes earlier I was so glad to have reached. A 6 pack of beer in my hand (light beer of course) and a shopper full of treats (the usual crisps, dips and haribo jelly's plain and fizzy - I really do cater for all palettes) I made my way up to the apartment. Boyfriends mate and his girlfriend had opened their door's to all the strays who couldn't make it on the trip. We were greeted by candle light, with a lovely sweet smelling scent at the doors entrance but this was BOYS night. Football on the flat screen, nacho's on the table, beers stacked in the fridge and whispers on pizza ordering at half time. It didn't take me long to unwind and I soon forgot of the stresses of work.

Saturday Night
Venue: Friends House
Reason: Couples 'Games' Night (we had previously hosted a 'Come Dine With Me' style evening but as everyone was pretty tired from the previous night it was happily less formal)

After a couple of hours in work, followed by an impromptu visit to the hairdressers I was feeling nice and refreshed with my hair in a glossy curly blow dry. En route home I dropped into the Luxury Hall of my fave Department Store in Dublin and picked up some fab Laduree macaroons to give our host (of course asking to sample the odd one to aid me in my choice of flavours...I went for some vanilla, caramel, chocolate, pistachio and rose petal) We arrived to the house after nine but just in time for the games to begin. Surrounding the coffee table, accompanied by a  carefully selected play list  we commenced the Girls versus Boys Trivial Pursuit extravaganza which was to take us into the early hours of the morning...to keep us going our very kind hosts kept our energy levels up with bowls of sweets, a plateful of floral cupcakes...cocktail sausages and garlic breads (which none of the girls got their hands on due to the boys immediate pouncing)  - when our host was about to produce some cheese I half heartedly announced I was stuffed (oooh that Brie looked so good) I simply couldn't risk encouraging night mares produced from late night cheese eating. And as if I need to say...THE GIRLS WON!

Sunday Day come Night
Venue: Local Church & pub
Reason: Christening

Now this party called for much more planning on my part. After many texts from fellow attendee's of 'what are you wearing?' 'Are you going casual or formal' 'Is it too cold to go bare or should I go for opaques?' Of course this morning my hair decided to have a hissy fit. I wanted sleek. Hair wanted something that resemble a cave woman! We settled on 'crazy lady chic', I accompanied this with my unworn Cos leather insert dress (which has hung in my wardrobe for what feels like eternity) my Topshop studded ankle boots and some gold jewellery, trusty Celine on arm...I was in Debbie (Harry) does Church style. Gift box under arm, also black but full off egg blue tissue paper and cool little clothes - including a very cute Black and white faded Ramones tshirt that boyfriend actually lusted after.

Once the official proceedings were over it was off to our local pub for food and celebratory drinks. Of course once it hit half five families went home for the night where as boyfriend and I used the immortal words 'sure why don't we stay for one drink' . Pints of Guinness resting by the bar, orders of pinot grigio by the girls  'a glass, sure we may as well go for a bottle',jack daniels for a night cap, the band playing live music, some tunes getting the thumbs up and others we declined to comment on. When after much pressure I was dragged on to the dance floor by an elderly man I realised it was time for bed.

So after three solid days of partying I am now in need of Food, Bed and Cuddles..my Blackberry pings YOU HAVE 3 REMINDERS (1) Friday 18th Nov Black Tie Ball (2) Saturday 19th November ***** Birthday Party (3) Sunday 20th November ******* Christening.

 SIGH when will this party famine arrive!


These are a few of my favourite things...

A trip to Zara prevents Monday blues

Cupcakes celebrating Movember

Beauty buy of the day.......

tangle tweezer - bye bye knots hellooo silky tresses

I thought a visit to my hairdresser couldn't get better

fully engrossed in Vogue Magazine

Until this mixed berry tea and mini muffin arrives...

A festive window I am very jealous of...

oh to have all that le creuset in my kitchen

inspiring me to do some baking...apple crumble anyone!?

A puy lentil burger with chilli rocket & potato salad

Boyfriend gave the nod of approval in between bites!

Until tomorrow, night night. Ali
                                                x