Friday, October 21, 2011

Let the magic happen..........

Let the magic happen..........:

How aware are we of our intuition, the magic within us, of our creativity, weaving love into the lives of our family's our friends creating restful havens in our homes. How much happiness can we bring with a bunch of autumn flowers or a jar of home made jam lovingly given.....do we do enough? It is in our power to forget our egos, to let go of impatience, to notice more what others need, and what they are trying to say...to let not only our intuition speak but to act on it...so as the leaves fall and the wind twirls them into spirals of colours I know I will try to listen to my inner voice more so I am able to do these things.
With love

Chocolate Coconut Almond Scones

Chocolate Coconut Almond Scones:

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14 of the 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 thoughts going through my brainscape:


- I’m 30. I can’t shop at Forever 21. First of all, I’m a Large…. and the shorts are still waay too tiny. Secondly, I look much better in Anthropologie clothes.


- I’m worth it.


- Yea. So I just stress-ate a bag of potato chips. At least I just bought the small bag and not the giant bag… even though the giant bag was on sale. I’m alright!


- I wish I had claws so I could scratch my cat back.


- At least I have scissors to give my cat awkward hair cuts when he’s sleeping.


- I can’t sing, unless I’m alone and I’m pretending like I’m Adele… and then I still can’t sing.


- No, sir. Laundromat flirting is not my thing. I see you trying to find an ‘in’. Also… the fact that you’re wearing a bluetooth and that you brought your own wooden hangers to the laundromat makes it clear to me that you’re a serial killer. I’ve seen CSI. I’ve seen Dexter. COME ON!


- Well, if Hoarders weren’t such a mind-bending show, I wouldn’t have to watch it. It’s really not my fault.


- I’ll write that email… but first I’ll eat this cold burrito.


- I’m looking at you and secretly wondering if you’re an extreme couponer.


- Can I deep fry cupcakes? No.


- Some girls cry when they’re sad. I cry when I’m bonkers angry. That must be really creepy to people. Like… killer creepy.


- When did girls start wearing fake hair and fake eyelashes!? Ladies… come on. Can we all just work on the same playing field? Geez. You’re really making my hair look mousy.


- What kind of scones should I make? I know… sweet everything bagels… Everything Scones! I’m a genius.



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Toasted coconut is one of my favorite smells.


I wish my hair could smell like this all the time.


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Scones. Why not just throw in everything!? By the handful… with buttermilk.


Come on! This is how we should live everyday.


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If you don’t think this looks like a blessing from the heavens… we’re not friends.


If you don’t think this looks like a blessing from the heavens… then you’re not a ninja. That’s a problem.


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Toasty, buttery, and soft. Studded with almonds, chocolate and coconut. A mouthful of breakfast goodness! Add a big dollop of cherry jam and shut.it.up! The best breakfast everyday.



Chocolate Coconut Almond Scones


makes about 8 to 10 scones


Print this Recipe!


3 cups all-purpose flour


2 tablespoons raw or granulated sugar


3 teaspoons baking powder


1/2 teaspoon baking soda


3/4 teaspoon salt


3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes


1 large egg


3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk


1/3 cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)


1/3 cup slivered almonds


1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips


buttermilk and sugar for topping before baking


Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place shredded coconut and slivered almonds on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 8 to 10 minutes. Keep your eye on the coconut. It browns quickly. Remove from the oven when toasted and allow to cool. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.


In a large bowl, whisk together flour sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.


Toss the cold butter cubes into the flour mixture. Using your hands, quickly work in the butter into the flour mixture, breaking it up with your fingers. Some butter bits will be the size of small pebbles, and some will be the size of oat flakes. Set in the fridge for a few minutes.


Whisk together buttermilk and egg.


Remove the flour and butter mixture from the fridge and add coconut, almonds, and chocolate chips. Whisk together and create a well in the center of the mixture. Add the buttermilk mixture all at once to the well. Use a fork to bring the wet and the dry ingredients together. Mixture will be shaggy. Lightly flour a work surface and dump the shaggy dough mixture out onto the counter. Bring together the dough with your hands into a 1 1/2-inch thick disk . Use a 2 1/2-inch round biscuit cutter to cut out biscuits. Flour the biscuit cutter if it starts to stick to the dough.


Place biscuits, about 1 inch apart, on the prepared baking sheets. Brush with a bit of buttermilk and a few pinches of raw or granulated sugar. Bake biscuits for 14-18 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the oven and serve warm, with jam.


Friday Fabulousness....

Friday Fabulousness....:






















It's been a great week, the daily London sunshine has been an unexpected bonus....
my energy levels feel totally topped up....
which is a good thing since we now have a week's school holiday. Half-term already!


My son had his class assembly this morning....
I sat there thinking about what someone once said about wearing your heart outside your body when you have a child (or something like that)....it's so true....
when you see your child in a situation like that,
remembering their one line and beaming with pride,
it is so overwhelming, you can literally feel your heart filling with love and pride....
it's a lovely lovely thing and nothing else in the world matters :)


My weekend....hot soup, dancing class, cookery magazines to read, hopefully a long Sunday walk, childrens tennis tomorrow, finishing "Private Practice" season 2 and some TV catching up.


Thanks for all the lovely comments this week, have a brilliant week-end!




....such a gorgeous room....
to see more of this post, see here at Dustjacket....



The Luxe Report: Fall Style Inspiration

The Luxe Report: Fall Style Inspiration: image

{Bright Pop of Yellow, Wrapped in a Super-Luxe Fur, via tumblr}

Hi La Dolce Vita readers! I’m Rebecca, the founder of the fashion site, Young Sophisticates, and I’ll be writing a new fashion column, called The Luxe Report, here on La Dolce Vita. The Luxe Report will showcase the best in designer fashion and trends, with an emphasis on luxury and glamour. There will be links at the end of each post so you can shop the chic styles you’ve seen, and get the look! Some of my favorite things, right now, include… pink peonies, the fashion featured on Gossip Girl, Lollia Tea Leaves & Honey candle, OPI black cherry chutney and baking double chocolate cupcakes. I’m all about sophisticated pieces, with feminine detailing. My favorite designers include Proenza Schouler, Marchesa, Jason Wu, and Oscar de la Renta. I share Paloma’s “classic with a twist” aesthetic in fashion and interiors, and that’s why I am thrilled to be a new La Dolce Vita contributor.

Right now, I am daydreaming about luxe fur coats, fit-for-a-princess Issa London dresses, bright pops of color, and a bit of tweed and houndstooth thrown in the mix for good measure. Which fashion trends are you inspired by this season?

{Classic Pointy Toe Heels, Tortoise Sunnies, Minimalist Vibe Skirt & a Sexy Chic Fur Coat, via tumblr}

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{Ladylike & Modern, Issa - London Fashion Week - F/W '11, via tumblr}

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{Parisian Chic; Effortlessly Cool Clemence Poesy via tumblr}