Fashion alert: spotted!

Roberto Cavalli designed in cooperation with the sports brand ‘Ciclotto’ a hometrainer. Totally in Cavalli’s style, like noticeable.. They come in 6 different designs, but ofcourse i'll go for the leopard print:) The brand assure us the quality is high standard, but just as a furniture piece, it won't be looking that bad in the living room! The unique bikes are only available in the Cavalli stores.. 

It’s not the first time Cavalli goes sporty, he already launched a sports-clothing line for all of our fashionable sports fanatics..

Unfortunately only for the ones who can afford it, but looking at them is ok as well right?

Working out in style..(Photo:fashionlicious.nl)

 Michael Kors jewellery!

Some news that just popped up today in my sight: At the end of August, Michael Kors will finally launch his jewellery line that he designed in collaboration with Fossil. A few pieces were already showm at New York fashion week last February. The collection is fortunately very affordable! The price ranges are from 30 to 300 euro’s.  So fashionistas like us will get the chance to be the proud owner of a really masterpiece jewellery from MK;)

The collection will be available in selected stores around the world. Customers can also already place a pré order for the jewellery that, in my opinion will be sold out quite fast. The jewellery is produced out of silver and gold materials combined with leather.. The familiar MK logo is visible in almost every piece what makes them noticeable like all designers jewellery;)

My favourite piece: The leather bracelet combined with gold metal details!

Future top seller? Ring with MK design

Sophisticated combined with rough materials

Big, bigger.. necklace

Grungy big bracelet..

Carrot cake!

Worteltjestaart.. Huh? Ja, taart met wortels!

Een Zwitserse variant van de welbekende ‘Carrot Cake’ uit de VS. Tijdens mijn reis naar New York, heb ik cupcakes en carrot cake aangeschaft bij Magnolia Bakery, de bekende bakkerij beroemd om zijn overheerlijke cupcakes uit Sex & the City. En dat is zeker geen woord teveel. Bij binnenkomst kan je achterin de rij aansluiten, maar wordt je ondertussen vermaakt met een blikje in de keuken en kijk je je ogen uit naar al dat lekkers. Bij de kassa aangekomen weet je door al die keus niet meer wat te nemen..

Om de verscheidenheid van deze bakkerij te proeven en dan met name de Amerikaanse keuken, heb ik 2 punten Carrot cake genomen, met daarnaast 2 cupcakes in de smaken red-velvet en banaan-walnoot.
Al het zwoegen van de gepassioneerde bakkers proef je gelijk! De cupcakes zijn heerlijk zacht, zitten vol smaak en de topping is romiger dan je ooit hebt geproefd! De carrot cake wordt gemaakt van ‘carrots’ en veel ‘cream cheese’ met stukjes pecannoten, amandelen en walnoten! 1 punt is eigenlijk al te veel voor een  persoon aangezien het echte Amerikaanse porties zijn en de roomkaas goed vult. Maar een paar hapjes doen je werkelijk smelten en genieten van de heerlijke verse taart!

De Zwitserse versie van worteltaart , heet Rüeblitorte. Na een tip en een heelijk voorproefje van een collega, heb ik hem zelf ook eens uitgeprobeerd.. 

 De geraspte wortels maken de taart sappig en benadrukken de smaak van amandelen. De taart verschilt iets met de Amerikaanse. Hier zit geen roomkaas en boter in, wat hem gelijk minder vet en vullend maakt. Ook worden er meer amandelen gebruikt die een heerlijke overheersende smaak aan de taart geven. Een heerlijk en geurig gebak voor een verjaardag,
of .. omdat het gewoon kan!!

Et voila, het resultaat..

Benodigdheden:

 6 eieren - 300 gr suiker - 300 gr heel fijn gemalen amandelen - 250 gr rauwe wortel - 50 gr bloem - rasp van een onbehandelde citroen - 1 theel bakpoeder - 1 theelepel vanille-extract (te koop in keukenflesjes bij AH) - wat poedersuiker

Verwarm de oven voor op 180gr.C. Vet een springvorm in en bestuif deze met bloem. Maak de wortels schoon en rasp deze fijn. Scheid de dooiers van de eiwitten. Roer de dooiers met de suiker, citroenrasp en vanille-extract schuimig. Klop de eiwitten stijf. Roer de wortelrasp. gemalen amandelen, gezeefde bloem en bakpoeder door het dooiermengsel. Spatel voorzichtig het eiwit erdoor.

Schep de massa in de springvorm en bak de taart in 60 minuten lichtbruin en gaar. Laat de taart een beetje afkoelen en stort hem op een platte schaal. Laat helemaal afkoelen en bestrooi met poedersuiker. Je kan ook zelf glazuur maken door 150 gram poedersuiker te mengen met een klein beetje water.

Om het helemaal creatief af te maken:
Meng 3/4 van de marsepein met een klein beetje oranje kleurstof. Meng de rest van de marsepein met een heel klein beetje groene kleurstof. Voeg evt. poedersuiker toe. Boetseer hiervan worteltjes en versier de taart hiermee. Met een minuscuul beetje cacao geef je de worteltjes een authenthiek ′zanderig′ uiterlijk.

Healthy superfood: Oatmeal!

Oatmeal, a world-wide well known piece of healthy food! Be creative and mix it with fruit, yoghurt, milk or bake cookies from it!

I start the day by boiling some water and let 3 table spoons of oatmeal get soaked by this water. Next, I add some fibres from Kellogs and mixed fruit.. Superhealthy and the fibres make you feel filled until lunchtime. It’s better to take breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and have dinner like a, well.. poor guy;) A breakfast has to be full of energy. It’s a logical way of thinking, because this will prepare your body and digestion for the day.

Ok, on to the cookies. It’s a healthy delicious snack and the raisins makes it sweet, without putting a lot of sugar in it.. I also added a banana and only used 50 grams of brown cane sugar. With this recipe you will get about 25 small cookies. I made them as a side dish for a high-tea baby shower.

If you think the cookies could be sweeter, just dip them in marmalade. Honey, chocolate.. whatever!

Needs:

5 gr butter

125 gr brown cane sugar / 50 gr brown cane sugar, 1 banana

1 egg, stirred

125 gr self rising flour

55 gr oatmeal

175 gr raisins

Heat the oven at 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix the butter and sugar well. Add the egg and keep mixing well. Riddle the flour above the dough, add the oat meal and raisins and keep stirring well. Scoop pieces of dough in the size of a teaspoon on an ovenplate and keep enough space to let the cookies rice.

Let them bake for 10 -15 minutes until the cookies are light-brown. Keep the cookies on a plate outside of the oven to cool off. You can keep this delicious cookies for 3-4 days in a hermetic box.  

Notice: They are the best 1 day after baking!

Havermout, superfood!

Iedereen kent de brinta papjes van vroeger wel. Ik ook, maar op een gegeven moment gaf ik toch liever de voorkeur aan een lekkere boterham met boter en hagelslag! Nu is brinta wel een beetje te vergelijken met havermout, het zijn allebei havervlokken en zetten uit als hier een warme substantie bij wordt geschonken.

Sinds ik vezelrijk en bewuster ben gaan leven, is havermout 1 van de basis ingrediënten van mijn ontbijt.

Havermout is een uitstekende bron van oplosbare voedingsvezels, die een hoog cholesterolgehalte in het bloed helpen verminderen, zodat ook het risico van een hartziekte verkleint. Ik drink al jaren geen melk meer door een allergie, lang geleden. Maar.. havermout is prima te bereiden met andere producten! Laat het bijvoorbeeld wellen in heet water en meng het vervolgens met wat yoghurt, honing en krenten. Lekker, gezond en vezelrijk ontbijt! Het ontbijt is de belangrijkste maaltijd van de dag, aangezien je lichaam een goede start nodig heeft, net als je spijsvertering. 

Met havermout kan je heel veel kanten op en er de lekkerste dingen mee maken. Zoals.. koekjes! En gezonde ook nog.. Als de helft van de suiker wordt vervangen door een banaan blijven de koekjes net zo zoet en geeft het een fruitige smaak. Met dit recept maak je ongeveer 25 kleine koekjes, of 15 grote koeken. Serveer er een schaaltje jam of honing bij om het net wat zoeter of gezelliger te maken! Erg leuk voor een high-teaJ

Benodigdheden:

5 g boter, op kamertemperatuur

125 g lichtbruine ruwe rietsuiker (of 50 gr, + 1 banaan)

1 ei, losgeklopt

125 g zelfrijzende bloem

55 g havermout

175 g rozijnen

Bereidingswijze

• Verwarm de oven voor op 180 °C. Klop de boter en de suiker tot ze bleek en schuimig zijn. Voeg het ei toe en blijf kloppen. Zeef de bloem boven het deeg, voeg de havermout en de rozijnen toe en meng goed.

• Schep opgehoopte theelepels van het deeg op 3 ingevette bakplaten en laat voldoende ruimte vrij tussen de koekjes zodat ze nog kunnen uitzetten tijdens het bakken.

• Bak de koekjes 10-15 minuten of tot ze goudbruin zijn. Laat ze een beetje afkoelen op de bakplaten, leg ze dan op een rooster en laat ze helemaal afkoelen. U kunt deze koekjes 3-4 dagen bewaren in een luchtdichte doos.

Weetje:

• Rozijnen zijn een goede bron van ijzer, kalium, voedingsvezels en natuurlijke suikers..

Variaties:

• Voeg de fijngeraspte schil van 1 kleine citroen of sinaasappel toe aan het deeg, samen met de havermout en de rozijnen.

• Zeef 1-1½ tl gemalen, gemengde kruiden, kaneel of gember samen met de bloem.

Trend of 2011: Kiboots! plus, impression AIFW..

 

An upcoming trend that is getting bigger and bigger.. Even though it is summertime here in Holland, people are getting fanatic about the ‘Kiboots’!

“Kiboots are colourful handmade boots made by skilled artisans that combine original vintage kilim rugs and leather in a unique way. Besides that they are all handcrafted from top to bottom. Almost all of the kilim's used in Kiboots have a long history and story to tell as they are collected from all over the country.” (Kiboots.com)

This brand is established by two Dutch people, who enjoyed travelling and got inspired by the many artisians they have met during their trips. The young Amsterdam based label got picked up by stylists and buyers and the popularity is growing more and more..

The founders discovered an old pair and started reproducing these boots, by upgrading the quality and handpicking the vintage carpets themselves. With a massive popular range of high-quality boots as a result!

Most popular boots at the moment..(Photo: jackieonline.nl)

A lot of Dutch celebrities and stylists have picked up this trend what only makes it even more popular.. All the styles are available in their online store.. But the boots are so popular, they are sold out immediately! Well, at least they will be exlusive then, but i guess it won't take long before these boots are spotted on the street in every Ditch city..

Since the founders met a lot of artisans around the world, they also inspired them to for fill their dreams. They want to give them a chance to start, for example, a small own business.

With every purchase (online) they raise money for their ‘Youandki’ movement in which they help out individuals, groups or projects all of the world that they believe in and that need any sort of support.

A good initiative from a fashionable brand that helps young, motivated entrepreneurs around the world!

Since Amsterdam fashion week already started this week, I will pay a visit to the modefabriek. This is a fashion fair with all kinds of fashion brands from Europe. Starting, successful and popular brands will present their own at the no. 7 biggest fashion week of the world. Including runway shows by familiar Dutch brands, meetings and a lot of new inspiring trends to watch! Last week, AFW has been already succesful and all over the news with shows from Tony Cohen, Spijkers & Spijkers, G-Star etc..

Trash & Treasures, a unique garage sale, will be on the modefabriek fair for the second time. Also kiboots, and many more upcoming popular brands will sell some goods I hope! Definitely worth a visit I guess..Next time, pictures, reviews and more!

Impression of Modefabriek, Amsterdam..(Photo:modefabriek.nl)

Favourite and renewed webshops!

Some brands started their webshop, some webshops updated.. A few changes on the net the past few months!

H&M totally renewed their page and webshop. With a new item, called "H&M life", the company tries to keep their customers up-to date with the latest trends in H&M style ofcourse..

By entering the home-page, you will be able to find exactly what you are looking for by sourcing trough the navigation buttons. The pictures improved in quality, that gives you the chance to see the correct colour and shape of the article.

In my opinion, a giant step forward for H&M! I just ordered something...:)

Other big news..  Bloomingdales.. (read blog New York) also opened a web shop! I think this will put a smile on the faces a lot of European fashionistas..Big names are available in the webshop for affordable prices.

For example, Michael Kors, but also Lucky Brand with some beautiful bikinis..

Exclusive bikinis from lucky brand (bloomingdales.com)

Quite affordable handbags by Michael Kors (bloomingdales.com)

The shipping standards are good and you can choose your own way of shipping and currency.

Unfortunately, the big handbag-brand "Coach" known for its beautiful leather handbags isn't available to ship outside of the US yet.. Therefore, you really have to purchase a bag in the store of Bloomingdales, when visiting New York;)

Last tip.. And a very good one i recently discovered: Asos marketplace!

Vintage clothing, accessoiries and many more great limited items!

''Sellers on ASOS Marketplace are divided into 2 categories, individual sellers and boutique sellers. Individual sellers can list individual items on the Marketplace for free. When you sign up and are accepted as a boutique seller, you’ll get your own easy-to-use online boutique which you can customise to your heart’s content''

So i surfed my way on the site and spotted some nice vintage-boutiques that sells exlusive beautiful items. These boutiques are located all around the UK and this gives them a chance to expand in the fashion market..

Slouchy canvas bag! (marketplace.asos.com)

Asos is expanding enormously and they know exactly what is on a fashionistas mind.. The great thing is that they ship to The Netherlands for free and i have experienced several times their great service..

So if you don't mind, i will continue my shopping night trough these stores for some time tonight..;)

Wanna join? Shop directly!

Homepage of asos marketplace (marketplace.asos.com)

Paris.. Cité d’amour, mode et vin!

Yes, Paris is definitely the city of love, fashion and wine.. We experienced this woman’s favourite things at the maximum last weekend. 

Ok, we were feeling as a child for 1 day in Disneyland and loved it! Walking around all the Disney items from your favourite cartoons and still being a little bit afraid of all the heights in attractions;) Fitting all the crazy over-priced merchandise items at the gift shops and making pictures of it, repeating taking rides in the rollercoasters, even though our shoulders hurt and being extremely exhausted when the park closes while eating a nice menu in one of Paris’s ‘restaurantes rapides’ or so called, Mc Donalds!

Fashion @ Disney

Off to the serious things after being a child for 1 day..

Because we had not to much time in Paris (1,5 day) we decided we wanted to do the things we are good at: shopping! According to our city guide, the exclusive, vintage and sophisticated little boutiques are located in the ‘Marmais’ district. It seems to be a Gay and Jewish culture that goes perfectly along in the small, chique looking shopping streets with an unknown number of nice kosher bakeries and falafel places.

Sucrée boutique @ Rue les rosiers

Nice little shopping streets @ Marmais district

Zadig & Voltaire brand store

We went to a lot of boutiques that sold the most craziest but also fashionable and good priced things. Popular upcoming brands are located, like Zadig & Voltaire. A French brand that is going very well and even has their own brand store in Amsterdam at the moment. The clothes are made from luxury fabrics with natural prints and basic, edgy looks. We loved the small boutiques that sells clothes from popular good-priced French brands, but also nice pieces of Vero Moda and Kookai. Being a little bit of a tea-addict, I had to pay a visit at the Kusmi tea store. Once going in, you will be overwhelmed by such a variety of Detox tea, green tea, ice tea etc.. You don’t know where to start or what to smell. I absolutely love green tea and the owner of the shop recommended me a Japanese green tea wit popped rice and corn and made me try it. One word: Delicious! I purchased  little boxes of loose different green tea’s and took 1 bigger can of green tea with almond. I just tried this tea with a scent that was absolutely worth those 12 euros while typing this post and its really even more tasteful than the smell itself! 

Delicious Kusmi tea!

Bracelet purchased at the Sucrée boutique

Since shopping is quite exhausting, we dropped by a nice little wine bar with the most delicious tapas snack… The wall was filled with bottles of red wine and our plate was filled with a variety of self-choosed tapas. Olive tapenade, hummus, aubergine with tomato sauce, tuna dip, mushrooms and some tabouleh all accompanied with some dark brown bread to dip. After this afternoon snack we continued shopping until the regular closing time on Sunday’s, around 8 o’clock.

The subway net of Paris is very good to travel with. The trains are clean and the maintenance on the stations is better than I have seen in other cities.

French macarones!

In the line for a Berry icecream or cupcake

Our hotel was located in Montmartre. This district is known by the ‘Sacre Couer’ basilique and its cosy and nice located restaurants around it. We went to a colourful restaurant on the top of montmartre with great colourings on the wall and delicious home-made bread. My meal was (for the 3th time) a salad with goat cheese! The Frenchies are known for its delicious cheeses, so I had to try all the varieties of it. Melted with a roasted bread, on top of a salad, or mixed with apple packed in some pastry. The other girls tried French specialties as well, like quiche lorraine, croissants and baguettes. All even delicious!

In our last day we stopped at Champs Elyseés for a quick breakfast and started our last part of the shopping weekend. The champs elyseés is filled with a lot of big-brand stores, but it’s nice to walk around and see the beautiful buildings they are located in. Especially the Louis Vuitton flagship store is incredible and worth a visit. For our last stop, we visited the big warehouse La Fayette. It’s similar to Macy’s for the brands and goods, but smaller (fortunately!). Once we were in we spotted a big line of Japanese tourists in front of the Longchamp shop-in shop. Still amazing how much these people love the standard designer brands like LV, Longchamp, Chanel, Fendi etc..

The cosmetic department is huge and you could spend hours walking by all the different brands with each brand has their own specialty.

At the top of the building you are able to go to the terrace where the view over the city is amazing. I purchased a book about all of the worlds famous designers at the lecture department. It’s a limited edition from ‘Taschen’ and filled with interviews and history about great designers.

Breakfast..

Louis Vuitton @ Champs Elyseés

Amazing view from La Fayette..

After all, we had a great weekend in Paris, but not too much time to see and do what we wanted to, or what you have to be doing when you are in this amazing city. Fortunately it’s only a 5 hour drive from the centre of Holland and that makes it so much easier to go back for just a weekend. Even though it is only to visit Disney studio’s, shop in the other districts of Paris, eating a baguette at the Sacre Coeur stairs, or just walking around trying to improve your French!

Handbags.. a girl's best friend!

As told before, I like leather goods.. Especially handbags, totes, clutches, wallets etc.. I honestly think handbags are a girls best friend! A nice handbag is a finishing touch depending on a girl’s outfit. In one of my first posts I was writing about my thoughts considering buying a handbag. Most of all, I like the bag to be made out of genuine leather because of the quality. Although, when I spot a very nice, sophisticated and trendy bag that’s made out of polyester I won’t leave the shop before buying it;)

During my trip in New York I settled a goal for myself.. I wanted a handbag that suits my taste and is exclusive in Europe. Since a lot of designers and brands are located in the US, this was the ultimate place to shop. Especially Macy’s is like a big paradise filled with bags! I loved to see the bags from designers you wouldn’t walk into that quickly in Europe, like Jessica Simpson, Steve Madden, Ivanka Trump, Michael Kors, Coach, and many more..

I spotted so many nice designs! And the prices were extremely low compared to the Dutch retail prices..

In the back of a shelf in the wall, I found a handbag from Steve Madden. It was exactly the shape, colour and design I was looking for..  Mission completed! Well, not for me.. I found a nice bag for this season and was very pleased with it, but I was still thinking about buying a designer handbag. I have been keeping an eye on the collection of Michael Kors and I absolutely love his designs. In Holland the bags aren’t really affordable, but since Michael is an American designer, the exchange rate was ridiculously low and Bloomindales offered me a 10% discount, mission 2 was completed.. I found my first designer bag made out of genuine leather (yes;)) and a lovely design, wearable all year long!

Mission NY completed;)

At this moment I am daily using the Steve Madden bag, because it gives you that summer feeling with the colours and material, but soon I will have the MK bag hanging on my arms, walking proudly trough the Dutch streets!

Handbag collection.. Still a few missing!

Diamonds are temporary, handbags are forever!;)