trend alert

Neutral tones with pops of colour are set to be big for 2013 in the world of interior design. Splash a lick of paint on those walls in warm neutral tones such as taupes, beiges, creams and browns or indeed a cooler neutral tone like silver, white or grey and put a spring touch to the room with bright bold colours: Fuchsias, Greens, Oranges, Purples, Blues, you name it. Feathers and eclectic patterns and fabrics are all key trends also, so get creative and enjoy! 

Here's some good old inspiration to get you started!

thought of the day

La petite cuisine

Rachel Khoo is my latest obsession- her food, her vintage dresses, her tiny little Parisian apartment/restaurant (Rachel lives in Paris and has a tiny little restaurant in her apartment), I just can't get enough. I bought the book last summer and just after a quick flick I knew I was in for a treat. Croque-madames, îles flotants, madeleines and other French delights are all here with a fresh twist a la Khoo.  As she roams through the markets and to the local 'Boucherie's in her latest programme The Little Paris Kitchen, you can see that she loves everything about Paris and French cuisine. And quite frankly, I love everything about her.

Here are some of my favourite recipes from the book:

Madeleines with lemon curd
The classic French sponges made even more delicious with a dollop of lemon curd in the middle.

make it here

Cheese, pistachio and prune cake here

Boeuf Bourguignon with baguette dumplings here

and lastly here is a little picture of Rachel's smiley face, you can see how much she loves baking: