Travel Thursday

Christmas Markets in Europe


It is a secret dream of mine to tour the Christmas Markets in Europe. I've been sent information from various travel companies about the tours that are offered during the month of December, featuring enchanting photos.

For anyone who loves craft fairs and flea markets, imagine sipping hot cider or rich milky hot cocoa with marshmellows, smelling fresh gingerbread cookies, all bundled up with knitted mittens, and scarves. Imagine the scent of fresh pine, the lights lit, and walking up and down the cobblestoned streets with visible breath taking in all the beautiful hand made works of art and Christmas decor laid upon red velvet fabric and jingling bells abound.

I will even go so far as to say, it has been a far fetched fantasy to marry at the Linderhof Castle in the Black Forest, near Munich, Germany.

Linderhof in Winter

Linderhof in Autumn

The photo taken in the winter, has made a winter wedding seem quite magical, followed by a German honeymoon touring the Christmas Markets.


Travel Intelligence has listed the Top 10 Christmas Markets in Europe:

1. Cologne
2. Vienna
3. Nuremberg
4. Dresden
5. Brussels
6. Munich
7. Prague
8. Tallinn
9. Berlin
10. Copenhagen

See detailed information on these markets HERE.

Also, for German Christmas Markets, visit HERE.

Stay tuned... I'm excited to show you some German ornaments later this week.

Happy Traveling!!

GARY CARD AND HIS CAVE

Olivia Hegarty is like the binoculars to the world of magic in  Studio 2.1, and has recently helped squish plasticine into face shapes for  prop-maker/ artist Gary Cards latest exhibit 'Bemuda Triangle' at Spring Studios... thus bringing his genius to the forefront of my attention. I plan to go down ASAP, as I turned up to the opening after it had ended and trotted around in the rain looking for a wheat-free snack, all deprived of the wonder...

*FLASHBACK* Girl falls down hole in Labyrinth
Scary.

 Pics from Gary's Blog;

You just cant love to hate her anymore..

Victoria Beckham used to be pigeon-holed as a vain capitalist entreprener (high-class Jordan), but really theres just no point in dissing her anymore... Her collections might be V.  Roland Mouret, but hey- she knows what she is doing and shes doing it really well. Generally Im not a fan of mega-simple unless its somewhat abstract, but you cant argue with the seriously razor-sharp cutting that looks like it would slice an hourglass form out of any figure. Oh so structurally deliciouso...

Girl Stuff like how it used to be- before everyone became dirty (unclean) on purpose

WAH NAILS is definately the best thing happening on my street- though many old-school expat locals (AKA young-pro/artists in east-london who werent born there) complain that shoreditch is creeping up on them and destroying the scrapheap challenge heaven of Kingsland Road.... its not really a big deal considering shoreditch ha always been 5 mins down the same street anyway... anyway, remember guys,self-imposed poverty is ALWAYS AN OPTION no matter where you are!
Anyway- back on subject... the smell of nail chemicals freaks me out- but I might just go and get some gold foil ones done anyway just so I can check out their 90's magazine collection.
I love this illustration on their online magazine by Polly Philp (soon to be Camberwell illustration graduate-who has been making special things for ages)

MR LARKIN - WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE BRING MR LARKIN OVER TO AUSTRALIA??!!

I absolutely love it when designista's incorporate a healthy and cleaner conscious towards fashion. Well... I don't love it as much as I am writing about it... but hey.. it's something different, unique and promotes healthy planet!xo.

Introducing a little magnificent find.. all the way from the land of the U.S of A!.. this is MR LARKIN!... a 100% organic fashion offering. Currently only available in the U.S of A and the Canadian waters... however for the desperate fashionista's from world over.. you can get your hands on Mr Larkin online...

Too often do I see organic fashion offerings as having any fashion excitement at all!, generally the purpose is drab.. too pure and boring looking. But my fashion opinion has changed when I first investigated Mr Larkin. An exceptionally ORGANIC label indeed.

So tempted to push aside my other fashion finds....to temporarily becoming 'organically loving'.

Mr Larkin is in keeping with the fashion trends offered... however.... mellowing it down a couple of notches or two.. by simplifying the designs.. yet so symmetrically and asymmetrically compatible.xoxo.

There were a few eye sores... but not really worth mentioning at the moment.( you'll have to check it out on their webby to understand what I mean by eye sore!)

My critic thoughts are nodding in approval of this rare Mr Larkin. The unique presentation of story notes alongside the designs... introduces a very deep and personal relationship for the fashion offering and the fashionista.

I don't mind 'Elsa' she's looking delicately pure and vulnerable.. whimsically floating on cloud nine... is my first impression.

Knowing Madam Alexandra E...... although Elsa looks suitable for a more formal occasion.....I would relentlessly give in to wear it on a nice breezy summer evening out at a high dessert parlour............... I would probably throw in a millimeter belt around the hip line... pull it up to give it a bag effect... and then team it with an oh so pair luxe of dynamic flat sandals/ heels..... and yes... the foot form may just be in a brighter color palette also. Mwah xoxo.

My prediction???...... SOMEBODY IN THE SHORES OF OZ ( AUSTRALIA) PLEASE STOCK MR LARKIN..... bring Mr Larkin down under... because this is one stylish organic fashion offering................no yoga or meditation 100% organic kind of designs here!! thank goodness for that!!!xoxo.

Do your homework: http://www.mrlarkin.net/ (the webby is organically raw!!)

Style rating: Mr Larkin - Applaud ( Stylish effort)

Love me or hate me

Madam Alexandra E. (k)

fashion stylist.fashion queen.fashion critic

Good Eats Wednesday

A Partridge in a Pear Tree...

Beautiful illustration from John Coulture's Blog.

One thing I love about December is receiving gift baskets at work from other companies. Although, they are more sparse these days with the economic slowdown the past couple years, we still usually manage to receive at least one gift basket from Harry & David, which typically includes their delicious pears around this time of year.

And how I adore pair tarts too. This mouth watering recipe from Reader's Digest caught my eye...

Hazelnut Pear Tart

Photo by: Rob Hagen & Dan Roberts

You will need:

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup finely chopped blanched hazelnuts

Filling:

1/3 cup apricot preserves

2/3 cup chopped blanched hazelnuts, toasted

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons butter, softened

1 egg, lightly beaten

2-3/4 pounds pears, peeled, cored, and sliced

What to Do:

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar. Beat in vanilla, flour and hazelnuts. Press into a greased 11-in tart pan with removable bottom. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven; reduce heat to 350 degrees.

2. Spread apricot preserves over crust. In a bowl, combine the hazelnuts, sugar, flour, butter and egg. Spoon over preserves. Arrange pear slices over filling in a concentric circle, slightly overlappying slices.

3. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Store in the refrigerator.

Serves 10-12.

Bon appetit!!!

Buraka Som Systema

I can never remember how to spell this so Im just going to blog post it for future NEED ...