Kitchen nightmares!

The afternoon started out great,
it found me happily perusing the collection of cookbooks looking for inspiration for dinner.

My husband loves Italian food and I thought I'd try and make some fresh pasta with a simple tomato sauce.
It can't be that difficult.

We watch Lidia Bastianich most nights before dinner is served.
She makes everything look so easy.

I put all the ingredients in the food processor to mix as directed

and then proceeded to knead the dough.

It was hard work and my muscles got really sore.

It doesn't look that difficult on TV.

(that should have been my first clue that something was wrong)

At least I had some time to recuperate after fighting with the dough.

It needed to be wrapped in cling film and chilled 

for at least 30 minutes before rolling and cutting.

Try rolling a large clump of clay 

it was quite a battle and the clay won.

I managed with this pasta machine to flatten the lumps

but it was struggle with only two hands.

One to hold and guide the dough and one to turn the crank.

Why did I not purchase that Kitchen Aid pasta attachment when I saw it in Seattle?

Oh and I didn't have a pasta rack for drying the pasta.

(make do and mend)

 I used some glasses and put wooden spoons on top of them.

Pasta needs to dry before cooking it.

Cooking should take 3 minutes to al dente.

Here's where things got really messed up...

the pasta was cooked for 12 minutes and was still chewy and not at all al dente.

I felt like a failure as I followed the recipe to the letter.

I had simmered the tomatoes, garlic, onions and basil for an hour or so and it smelled delicious.

We were hungry so

we ate it anyway.

I am on the hunt for a fabulous pasta recipe

if you know of one please let me know.

In the meantime 

I will be visiting Lidia's Italy website 

seeking some pasta pointers.

Hope that you had a better day in every way!

Have a wonderful weekend

and carve out some time to just sit and be still 

and observe some of nature's bounty.

Shoe party!

What could be more fun than bows on toes?
When it comes to a party I love shoes that are girly and ready for fun.

I love my Stuart Weitzman black patent leather pointers from Spain.
These dress up a pair of denim jeans and they elevate a simple LBD.
I wore them today with white capris and a black V neck sleeveless top.
I don't believe in not wearing white after labour day.
Besides baby, it's HOT outside!

Stuart has competition

these dainty sling backs are made by a company that used to make 

"old lady shoes"

Naturalizer has amped up their designs...

perhaps they realized that "old ladies" don't like looking frumpy.

The new kids on the block...

These are the blacks in my shoe wardrobe

there are more

(of course!)

Sadly no red ones as I wore out the last pair.

They made me feel so happy and energetic 

gotta love what a great pair of shoes can do for a gal.

"I like Cinderella, I really do. 

She has a good work ethic. 

I appreciate a good, hard-working gal. 

And she likes shoes. 

The fairy tale is all about the shoe at the end, and I'm a big shoe girl." 

Amy Adams 

Do you LOVE shoes?

Tell me a shoe story I'm all ears.

French Perfume...

This post is in response to an anonymous commenter who wanted to know what fragrance I wore.

I love wearing scent as it makes me feel very feminine.
I use it sparingly as I do not want the fragrance to be overpowering.
Have you ever been in the unfortunate situation where someone has literally bathed in perfume and it is so strong that you sneeze?
It is very off putting if you are dining and you cannot avoid breathing in a scent that is so bold that it threatens to flavour your food.

I currently have 2 perfumes which I use according to my mood.
Hermes makes a lovely green citrus scent, Voyage d' Hermes which is light and I feel very energetic when I spritz this on. My sister wears this too!
Moonflower Orchid is from Grasse in France, it is slightly musky and feels rather exotic and somewhat bohemian!

I do love scent for men too and Mr. HB wears T'erre d' Hermes which I chose for him and it's intoxicating and very sexy!

Here's a post from 2009 on scent...

Christian Dior
''Long after one has forgotten what a woman wore, the memory of her perfume lingers''.


Coco Chanel
''Wear perfume wherever you want to be kissed''.

Earrings and alliums...

I can think of only a few things that make me feel more feminine than wearing pretty dangling earrings.
(lingerie, scent, and silk and not necessarily in that order!)

I have not been able to put my finger on how or why certain styles of earrings impart femininity they just do.

Lovely daughter made me a pair of crystal drops in the 1990's which I have and wear when I want to sparkle.
These Citrine beauties were a recent gift for my birthday.
I love them, and they have more value to me because she made them herself.

Large in size 

dainty in style

shaded softly in a warm honey tone.

Aren't they pretty?

I can never remember if this wee feline bronze

is made by Walter Bosse 

or by Baller.

It's vintage and was purchased years ago

from a thrift shop.

I had no idea they were "collectible" at the time 

I just liked the face and form.

Behind the scenes

a handmade amber art glass bauble.

Blowing glass is an amazing skill

I watched a documentary on Dale Chihuly on PBS

it's a craft not for the faint of heart.

If you have the opportunity to view it 

I highly recommend it.

Summer days are getting shorter

and I can feel there's a nip in the air

the garden is getting ready for her long winter slumber

and some of the leaves have started to turn.

If you love flowers and gardens you must go and meet Belinda

she has talent when it comes to growing flowers and creating lush bouquets

 she also makes and sells jewelry!

Go over and see her

 you'll be impressed.

Alliums have been growing throughout the season

they are now reverently tilting and bowing their heads 

as they wither

saying a fond farewell to summer.

Wonderful and reliable performers 

in a floral arrangement

 as a filler 

to add interest

or 

grouped together 

rubbing shoulders with their next of kin.

Close up

they are a lacy parasol of purple

oh to be a ladybug

sitting beneath

in the dappled shade 

protected 

from the hot summer sun.

I'll be trading in the parasol for an umbrella before you know it.

Dressing on a shoestring budget or "Parisian Chic #101"

Living with a little bit of restraint and some planned spending is on the agenda.
Not a self imposed total ban on spending,
just watching the purse strings a little more carefully so that we can embark on a renovation that has long been overdue.

The mantra being "living better, consuming less."

Debt has become such a large scale problem on the global stage and it is affecting all of us worldwide.
If we cannot manage our personal financial houses how can we expect the leaders and politicians to keep fiscally responsible?

Saving money is not easy for me as I am easily tempted by luxe products
and I have a tendency to indulge myself more often than not.
I am going to try very hard to be more mindful of my spending habits,
using cash and the bank debit card for all but online transactions.

Restraint with a "capital" R.
(not a capital H for Hermes)

Starting today...

Back to school shoes...

ballet flats

black leather

simple

(affordable)

Shoes to wear with skirts and dresses

black leather

comfy

(affordable)

These are very pedestrian foot friendly

shoes

perfect for a Humble Hostess.

I am shod for September's school bell which will be ringing in a few days.

My closet is looking lean

in shades of black white and grey

with several LBD's

a few basic classic garments

that will transition together 

making a multiple of looks

and

with scarves, bangles and baubles

I am set.

I feel more like a French girl than ever before!

Parisian Chic did inspire me to make a fresh start

culling the unloved and unworn sad sacks that hung in wait to haunt me

whispering ever so subtly

 "ha ha told you so"

The bulk of which were patterned garments of flimsy fabrics

purchased on a whim

as a tonic

to appease a low ebb.

Just to be upfront and clear

I am not giving up 

scrunchies

leggings 

or 

scarf rings

no apologies to Ines

I did enjoy this book.

It was a very quick read and I think would be very helpful as a guide to shopping in Paris.

 The iconic double breasted/belted French trench is something I have lusted after

yet it does not suit my frame.

A figure skimming shape with a row of single buttons with a built in half back belt detail work much better.

and I sourced a very affordable example at Land's End.

(as I type it is in transit)

There is not much left on my back-to-school list.

I'm feeling pretty content with the pieces that I have acquired and I have not blown the budget.

I'm ready to meet and greet the staff and students.

Apple anyone?