Shopping Windows Art

When you go out shopping in London, you can't help but notice the effort people put into making the windows look good. What they do is creating art. Especially in the big shops like Harrods, Selfridges, Debenhams, Harvey Nicks, you get to enjoy looking at clothes and shoes just by walking outside.

Harvey Nickols

Harvey Nicks is in the same area as Harrods, in Knightsbridge, and whilst there are plenty of reasons to visit Harrods for the history, the interior and the Food Halls (oh la la, the food in there!), if you want to enjoy shopping all the big brands, go to Harvey Nicks to avoid the queues and the hundred tourists, taking photos of everything and slowing you down. I mean, I was one of them plenty of times, but it's getting annoying after a while. HN is quiet, luxurious and you can browse for hours through Chloe clothes, Louboutin shoes, Chanel bags and on the ground floor there's every cosmetic you could wish for. Top floor holds beautiful Champagne bars, delicious sandwiches and small cafes with desserts and coffes. Not to mention the selection of food they have there from all over the world. Last time I went there I eyed some butterflies made of sugar and a collection of cupcakes with edible glitter! All that and many more, but time for some window shopping....

(dress from clothes pegs)

(tree from pencils)

(desk from books)

(piano from tapes)

(close up. It's amazing to think how much time it took them to make that)

Selfridges

ENVY the Burberry Prorsum Aviator Jacket

(the one that everyone goes crazy about this fall, do you think you could wear it? I can't figure out a way to style it, or it's just because my style is very different right now)

FIXATE the Nicholas Kirkwood Metallic shoes

(hello lover!)

WANT the Miu Miu print dress

(at this point I want to say that they did an amazing job selecting the most amazing pieces)

ADORE the Lanvin necklace

BRIGHT BOLD MATTE Nars Red Lipstick

Anything special windows you saw and you still remember? For me I'll always remember a christmas tree at Benetton windows in Tsimiski St were they used tiny colourful tshits instead of xmas decorative balls. It just looked so cute!

Been there, done that

The following post is a review of my Christmas Holidays and picture heavy!

1. Watched the fireworks in London in New Year's

(video here)

2. Went to Laduree for gateau, not macarons, and in Harrods, not Champs Elysees.

(At this point I got a bit angry, because they wouldn't allow photos, and helloo, if you take my camera, you take the whole joy of the experience away. But I managed to sneak some with the Iphone hehehe)

(I love the piece of gold on it, so luxurious)

3. Ice skated for the first time by Somerset House (my knee was covered by a big bruise that you do not want to see!)


4. Watched Chicago, the musical and it was breathtaking!


5. Ate one of everything in Winter Wonderland.

6. Made new friends!


7. Watched Avatar in 3D TWICE (and I never do that!)

8. Bought extreme amounts of Lush, more that I should


9. Saw snow



10. Got engaged :D



Couldn't be better........!

Travelling and some new cute things

Warning! This is just a "Look, look what I bought, isn't it cute??" kind of post! :P I'm in a crazy good mood today, since yesterday was the last presentation and the last lesson of the year, today last day of work, and in the meantime I had some time to wander around shops.

I stopped by H&M where, the first thing you notice is a million cute present packs of Hello Kitty as angel, golden and christmas-y packaging, all pretty and cheap, great for presents.
Next to the counter I noticed these and it didn't take long after I sniffed (and I sniffed whilst they were closed in their box!) to decide "I WANT THEM... ALL ". So I bought all 3. I'm talking about these special edition lip balms (you can never have too much right?) in Winter Apple, Caramel Fudge and Vanilla Sugar. Delicious, really moisturizing, they neutralize the color of your lips and it gives some glow. Cost = 1,95 euros. They replaced straight away Vaseline in my make up bag.






And talking about make up bags. I have a big case in my bag to keep all the make up, my hand sanitizer ( we live in hard times) etc etc. I told myself I'm not buying any other case unless I find something I love and that I won't settle with something average. THAT was love at first sight and only 3,95! Keeper!Exactly how I imagined it!


Getting in the Christmas mood, we decorated the house and that's a small sample, since we went all the way with socks hanging, a smallest tree in our room, getting out our celebrational table cloths! I even have tissues next to my bed with Christmas theme!


If you want to find out how I made the above origami, click here for the video. Yes, yes, if I can do it, you can do it too! I think I ruined it a bit with the glitter but anyway, I just hid it in the tree haha!




Last but definitely not least, news. My bags are all packed, my camera is empty because I'm flying to London tomorrow! I apologize if my blog will turn into a diary the next 3-4 weeks, I'm just so excited! Wish me luck for my flight ( I want it and need it cause I'm a bit anxious) and I hope the weather will be good. Right now it's snowing there, could this mean I might have White Christmas?? Please God!

What will you be doing for Christmas holidays? Skiing maybe, small trips somewhere with a fireplace?

Fifteen, London Review

I've been following Jamie Oliver since I was 15, and his first ever cooking show was on tv every afternoon. Whatever I had to do had to wait. Cooking books followed and more shows, and after I started trying his recipes at home, he never dissapointed me in taste or anything else!

So, whilst in London, I HAD to go to his restaurant! We booked a table online about a month ago. There's the restaurant or the trattoria to choose from. We chose trattoria because it seemed more casual compared to a fancy dinner in the restaurant.

"The Trattoria, on the ground floor, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner where you can enjoy great food in the typical Italian style. The Trattoria is rustic and relaxed and the service friendly, making it a great place to meet friends at any time of the day. " source

Btw I heard it makes the best breakfast in London!

Fifteen is located in a quiet area (15 Westland Place, N1 7LP), placed in an old building, easy to find (free) parking just outside.
Going inside it's cosy, nothing fancy,but a nice atmosphere and decoration.


So, let's move on to food finally!
As a starter we took :
"A selection of today’s freshly prepared and dressed summer vegetables, olives from Puglia, Italian cured meats and mozzarella di bufala Campana." and "Insalata Caprese – Beautiful mozzarella with Isle of Wight tomatoes and sweet basil" which I don't have a pic from, but it's the simplest salad you'll see with the most amazing taste!


For the main course I chose "The lightest potato gnocchi with a rich Welsh mountain lamb ragu, shaved parmesan and flat leaf parsley" and my bf "Seared trout with orange, beetroot
mint and onions"

OMG I have to talk about my gnocchi....they were divine! I'm still dreaming about them! They were fresh and soft, with just the right amount of lamb and the perfect sauce on top.....I'm drooling whilst writing this, it's a MUST if you visit the trattoria!

As a side dish we took italian fresh beans with garlic. I don't love beans so I don't have much to sat about that. :)


Our dessert was the best brownie I had ever tasted in my life, with a cherry sauce, cherries on top and chocolate sauce.

The service was excellent, everyone is very polite and not on top of your head all the time like in other restaurants where they take it too far. Food came quickly. The kitchen was behind us and you could see the desserts on the front and a selection of meats and different stuff on wooden dishes. I don't drink but I have to mention they have a variety of good wines where you can choose from.
The photos didn't turn out the way I wanted but the light was soft and I didn't want to keep using flash in the restaurant.


The dress code was saying smart casual. I chose to go safe and wear skinny jeans with a tunic that seems kinda smart and heels. Although I have to say, people in general in trattoria were quite casual and relaxed. So you definitely don't have to worry about that.

Ah, I love our garden!!!! So much better than my lounge in Greece, right?

Skinny jeans : Zara
Tunic : Pull&Bear
My new loves, shoes from Berska I found in Paris with and amazing discount

Would I go again? Absolutely yes! I'm looking forward and the food is worth every penny I spent!