A Twist on Traditional

It’s Christmas Eve Eve!

How did that happen?  One minute I was celebrating my birthday mid November, and today I’m in a panic, circling wagons on Christmas preps - have I forgotten something?  

Well, it’s certainly not K E V I N !!!

I had some bonus hours with the grandkiddos recently so I immediately said, hey let’s watch Home Alone! I absolutely never tire of that film and it never fails to get me feeling christmassy.  You too?

This got me feeling christmassy too.  Icing my cake.

I had the cake soaking up regular drizzles of brandy but had no idea how I was going to decorate it this year. 

Then on Sunday morning up popped a friend on Insta with a modern snowball design. 

I knew in an Insta instant that this was “the one”.

So I sent TP to Waitrose for fondant icing and gold lustre spray.  I’d not used either before.

 but they are the ultimate doddle!

I changed the design a little to “make it my own”.  I added a floor of fondant icing - an excuse for more sugar - and scattered the snowballs messily around to create the idea that the naughty elf on the shelf has had one gigantic snowball fight on my cake with his mates!

It’s more “official” theme is cascading snow piled with snowballs dusted with the gold lustre of the afternoon December sun.  That’s my take on it anyway.  

And I’m sooo happy with this simple, modern decoration which was such fun to put together.

Do you like this modern design?

How have you iced your cake?

Maybe you don’t do Christmas cakes?

I’ve made jule logs some years but they don’t keep so long.  This baby can keep for weeks, but I have the feeling it’s not going to last that long in our household!

Wishing you a merry Christmas Eve Eve!

A la perchoine,

Mary x.

Putting on the Glitz

Putting on the glitz.

.

Yesterday was a day for glitzing up.  On the trees inside and out with fairy lights.  And on me, with a subtle twinkly jumper and diamond mix for drinks with the neighbours. 

The leather-look jeans and knee boots are my requested “uniform” for winter drinks ... well you’ve got to keep your neighbours happy, eh?

So, the lights are on but no tree decs made it to the tree yesterday.  

BITD I used to decorate the whole HOUSE in an afternoon.  These days even decorating the tree has to be done in stages.  I think this is called Old Age. .

Do you find decorating for Christmas is a slower process as you get that little bit older?

Or is it that we just have more time to stretch out the festive decorating?

A la perchoine,

Mary x 

The Santa Baby Steal

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I wish you joy and calm, unity and hope; heaven knows we need it right now.

And I have a Christmas present 🎁 for you.

Because you're worth it.

It's a bit of frivolity and fun and it's my best EVER style steal.

I meant to pop it under your tree last night but I fell asleep after my Ovaltine (yup it's rock n roll all the way in the Pout house!).

So better late than never, I give you my step-by-step guide to

creating the perfect Santa Baby outfit.  Here's how you do it.

Take one plain red jersey dress.

Add tinsel.  Decide tinsel is not enough.

Start with the plain red jersey dress again.

Add Santa hat and old white faux fur stole found in cupboard a few days ago when searching out something to cover the base of the Christmas tree.

Decide the Hollywood Glam look is fine but something is missing.

Search house for real Santa 🎅 inspo.  Find two Santas.

Realise waist-cincher belt is the missing piece in this outfit.

Et voila!  The Santa 🎅 Steal.

My Santa🎅 Baby outfit!

And here's Kylie's.

Merry Christmas everyone,

Glaedelig Jul, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad!

A la perchoine,

Mary.

Christmas Overload

Helloooo!!

How’s it going, my jingle belled lovelies?  

I’m pretty sure you’re so otherwise occupied that you haven’t noticed that I’ve been seasonably AWOL this past week.  And that is good because it makes me feel a little better knowing that despite slowly drowning in tinsel and turkey dinners, my absence has gone largely unnoticed as you too busy yourself with all things seasonal.

But it really is a busy time eh?  I am now at that stage of the season when I have to do lists for my to do lists to oversee the whole, er, "slick" operation.  

These last few days in the lead up to The Big Day can feel a bit overwhelming, and I do struggle a little with Christmas Overload.

The "have I remembered everything?" cold sweat panic at 3 a.m.!! You too?  Or are you super-organised? Perhaps you have a laid-back, "whatever" approach ?

But right now I’m on my coffee break so I thought I’d just put index finger to tiny phone keyboard ⌨️ to say ho-ho-hi and share a festive outfit with you.

Cosy jumper and jeans, yule-ified.

Classic red, black and white, matchy-matchied right down to my little glittery penguin earrings!

Is there such a thing as Christmas overload?

The day was cold and I added a snuggly-seasonal blanket scarf.

Is this what Christmas overload looks like?

To be honest, I’m still finding styling blanket scarves a struggle, just as I did last winter.  What  to do with them?

There's the  granny-bib tie at the back style, or the granny-shawl tie at the front style.  And that's it.

I see the blanket scarf as grannycentric.  This is my second  winter with this one and my view and my tieing of them is unchanged. 

Though between you and me, the granny-bib style is pretty clever at hiding my granny dribbled turkey dinners 😊.

So I do thank whoever is in charge of fashion fads (China?) for coming up with this essential granny go-to in my wardrobe.  I'm now totally getting the bibbed-up blanket scarf!

Moving on from blankets and bibs, here's a 30 second round up of what I've been up to lately.  Those of a dieting disposition would be wise to steer clear of the "play" button though, as this clip contains festive food!

Does this look pretty much like how your week has panned out?

A la perchoine,

Mary 🎄 X.

Sleeper Fashion - A Happy Ending

Hello my lovelies!  

Happy first Thursday in December.   The month is a time of celebration so why not celebrate a random day of the week eh?!  Have you kicked off December celebrating with a lunch or a party, or maybe mince pies with a friend?

But right now, grab yourself a mulled wine, snuggle under a fur throw and hear my Fairy Tale on Thursday ...  with a happy ending, of course.

I kicked off the week with a Christmas party.  My first.  Possibly my only.

I don't go to many now that I'm retired.  When I was working, the balls, dinners, cocktail parties and lunches started mid November and carried on through to sometime in January.  My wardrobe was well-prepared for these occasions and on reflection I don't remember struggling over what to wear. 

  

Now, with invites thin on the ground, I do struggle.  If I needed to put together a ball gown or cocktail party look today, I'd still have no problem as I have thrown none of that previous-life stuff away and my Posh Wardrobe remains intact.  Too good to divest myself of, too pretty, too expensive ...

Lower key dos present a challenge though.  So what to wear for my party?  The younger me would have rushed out and panic-bought something new.  But not today's Pout, thankfully.  Instead I had a good old Girls' World wardrobe try on session ahead of the party.

And I was pleasantly pleased with what I managed to find in the Posh Wardrobe on Monday.

After much trying on (yes and phototaking, Susan H of Over50under20 !!) I chose this little combo.

Loose brown velvet trousers from a set from East (shown HERE in judi-in-disguise-with-glasses).

 Worn with a brown ruffle jumper with glittery gold edging.  A little brown and gold nugget.  And here's the shocker ... I've had this jumper since about 2003-2004 - and I have never.before.worn.it.OUT!!!

It's from Kaliko and I don't know if they're still making clothes after all these years.  Are they?

I'd bought the jumper to go with a long brown velvet evening skirt bought in the Kaliko sale, but that never got off the ground. Then my formal party wear days ran out and I occasionally tried it with other things and thought "naaaah!".  It seemed a bit frumpy, fuddyduddyfiddly with all the gold and ruffles going on.

But on Monday the stars aligned - it was hanging in the same suit bag as the velvet set and I thought (radically for me!) "Let's just give them a go together"

And I thought "bingo!!" (and so did The Photographer With Fashion Views, phew!). 

Suddenly my old fuddyduddyfiddly frilly jumper looked sorta "now".  

Yes, in 2018, ruffle jumper, brown, velvet, loose trouser line ... well they all started to make sense ... after 15 years.

To say I was a happy brown bunny would be the mother of all understatements.  The outfit felt comfortable.  It felt partyish, but not too much so.  And I was wearing it for the first time!

The outfit suited the Christmassy setting.

And rather than tottering around in ridiculously high stilettos, I was able to sneak a chunkier heel under the loose trousers so I could easily manage this spiral staircase to take an artsy Christmas shot for you, without mishap!

So my message here is hopefully clear.  

Open your eyes to things you've kept, which don't perhaps fit the life you have now but which are pretty, too well made or maybe were just too darned expensive to chuck out!

This is so much more than slow fashion.  This is Sleeper Fashion, for I call this jumper a wardrobe sleeper.

On Monday its handsome prince (aka the brown velvet trousers) kissed it gently and awoke it from its slumbers.  

Aaahhhh, don't you just love a happy ending?!

And I tell myself that in some microscopic and superficial way, my sleeper fashion must surely be helping to produce a slightly happier ending to our wondrous planet's tale of woe.  For instead of rushing out to panic-buy myself some fast fashion, I instead shopped my wardrobe.  The posh one.

Do you have any sleepers in your wardrobe?

Have a play around, try them with things you haven't tried before.  

Take photos.  Think radical.   

Maybe you'll find a prince to awaken your sleeper from its slumbers too ... and give it a happy ending!

A la perchoine,

Mary.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all my dear readers, x.

A la perchoine.

Danish Food - My way! Marcipanbrød

I love marzipan.  Since childhood, to be honest.  I think my love of marzipan is with me for the duration.  It started way back when Aunty Doris used to make little marzipan novelties at Christmas.  Little fruit and handbags were the shapes I remember.  So skilfully decorated and painted with a light touch of food colouring.  To a child they were magical.  To a child they were works of art.  It seemed sacrilegious  to eat them.  Oh the joy!

I also have had a huge love of liquorice.  Since forever.

Fast forward to adulthood.  I discovered that the Danish national sweet delicacy along with liquorice is something called Marcipanbrød, Marzipan Bread/Loaf.
Marzipan.  Liquorice.  What is there not to love about that country?!

Marcipanbrød, made most famously by Anton Berg, has only become available in the UK in recent years.  Prior to that I was that addicted to the stuff that I made up my own.  I give you my recipe below.  The Danes probably make theirs differently but what the heck, marzipan, chocolate, nuts, brandy ... who cares whether these loaves are authentically made or not?!

These make lovely hostess presents, something for the hostess to hand around with coffee ... or keep for herself!  They also make lovely little Christmas presents.  I cover them in cellophane like crackers and tie up the cracker ends with ribbon curls.

I warn you now that photos of these babies, undressed and dressed are not the prettiest.  But I can assure you that it is a loaf shape that is being created here!  Keep remembering that ...

Marcipanbrød

 

 

 

Ingredients

400* gr white marzipan

20-30 finely shelled nuts, halved and finely chopped , e.g. pecan or walnut

(reserving a few for decoration)

1-2 tablespoons brandy

150 gr good dark chocolate
 

Method
 

1. Open the marzipan and leave for a while to come to room temperature, making it easier to mould.

2. Flatten the marzipan, cover the centre with the nuts and a little of the brandy.  Mould together, adding the rest of the brandy gradually as you mould.

3. Form into two baguette loaf shapes and place in the fridge to firm a little.

4. Meanwhile, break the chocolate into smaller pieces and place in a bowl.  Microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring several times through the melting.  There will probably be a lumps left after the 2 minutes but take out of the microwave and keep stirring with a metal spoon until all is melted.

5. Now for the chocolate bit.  Remove the marzipan loaves from the fridge, place on a board.  Using a pastry brush, apply two thin layers to the visible loaf surface, allowing each to harden a little (about 3-5 minues between coats). 

Carefully flip them over and place on greaseproof baking parchment (this will make it easier to manoevre. Apply several coats to the new visible surface, allowing each coat to harden a little.  The chocolate will harden quicker as it cools.

Don't fret!  Any chocolate you have left over can be kept covered in the fridge and melted again for some other use ... like over icecream and scattered with some toasted almond slices :o).
 

6. As soon as you have applied the final coat of chocolate, decorate with nuts whilst still melted. 

 

Leave to harden.  To serve, cut the loaf in small slices, and enjoy !

 

 

* it's usually sold in 500 gr packs but 400 gr works out just right covered with 150 gr chocolate.  If you use the whole pack, you will need to up the chocolate.  The leftover marzipan can be chopped up and added to a biscuit mix.


Velbekomme!!

A la perchoine.



Party Tips

Before I ramble, I'd like to thank you, dear readers, for popping today and during the 11 months I've been Pouting.  

I appreciate the time you spare to visit and the absolute pleasure you give me when you've popped in, and when you follow me or leave a comment - it warms my heart and spurs me on as a blog can be a lonely place :-(.   

The friendships made have been a surprise bonus.  

I am humbled by your support. 

I wish you all a wonderful night tonight, wherever you are and whatever you're doing, and I wish you and yours a happy and healthy year ahead. 

Our recent Christmas Gathering of The Clan was held at Chez Pout.
I'd like to share my preps for the party with you, dear reader.
But before that, let's get the outfit out the way.

I went for total comfort.  A black jersey Rohan maxi vest dress.  Oh how I have worn this dress over the years.  It can go just about anywhere, dressed up, down ... or even sideways!

As it was a fun day, I accessorised with fun necklace and bracelet.  Both made of wood.  Both painted in multi-colours.  Both given to me as souvenirs from exotic places. 

I wear these pieces soooo much, like when we first met here!

But the party was pre-antibiotics, so I covered my neck snuggly with my dependable Zara leoprint scarf.  I think I've made up the word leoprint, BTW.  I hope so.  I think I can safely add that to my "jacardi" in the Pout Dictionary of Words That Should Exist.  But Don't.

Finally, keeping it real and yet in perfect context with the outfit, just a sneak of leoprint pompomed slippers below hemline :-).

And thus, our Pout is ready to party.

Fire lit and coloured lights a-flashing. Front lounge is ready to party.  Hyggeligt, ikke?

Kitchen ready for baking action.

Lemons ready to slide into G&Ts.

Hot drinks area ready for guests to help themselves, as and when

Chairs in place for ladies to place their handbags, a la towels on a poolside sun bed.  Really.  This actually happened.  I wish I'd taken a shot of all the bags positioned on the chairs, "claiming" their spots!

Crisps and nuts dotted around the mingling areas.

Candles lit.

Pout decorated with tinsel by granddaughter, done.

Photographer, as above, done.

Christmas light in its new home :-).

Photographer working on his crossword until the very second the first guests arrived!

Yes, Chez Pout is ready to party!

We had an absolutely wonderful time.  The children had a whale of a time!

It's so nice to see the generations together.  I'm now the eldest.  Ugh!  But it's better than the alternative, eh?

The party was a drinks and nibbles party.  And from it I have three top tips that I would like to share.  They are serious tips.  Don't expect anything witty.  They are sensible tips which may help you when hosting something similar.  Or you may already do these things and I am just incredibly slow to twig!

1.  When serving bought-in frozen party nibbles, take them out of the freezer, cook and serve in batches of one or two differents sorts at a time.  This means that you can gauge what's being eaten and you can stop when it looks like your guests are sated.  Thus, no waste.

2. Use paper plates and cups.  I usually shun them but I tried it this year and used "real" stuff just for serving dishes and wine.  This so worked.

3.  Make your own sausage rolls, with lots of added tastiness.  You get lots of compliments, they all get eaten up = empty plates!

Following those three basic steps, clearing up after everyone left was a doddle.  Just the glasses to wash up (the next day), the serving dishes bunged in the dishwasher and no food to pack up and struggle to find a place for in the fridge.  Simples or what?!

Sis offered to help clear up - I thanked her but told her we'd sort if out.  I am so relieved that I did.  Because having followed steps 1-3, clearing up was but a few moments' work.  It would have been embarrassing having got Sis to help out with such a quick task!

So what about you?  Have you been hosting any parties?  Do you have any time-saving tips to share?

And with this little offering, I thank you for popping in today and bid you

A la perchoine, in 2017!

Knus.

My (small) Christmas Tree

Hi maties.  I'll dive straight into today's subject.  Christmas trees.  Specifically the Pout Manor tree.

It's small.

We usually buy a large tree but this year we (rashly) decided to try a little one in a tub, one that we can plant out after Christmas.  And hopefully dig up year after year - I did tell you I was tight, eh?!!

But as soon as the tree arrived I knew it was, well, not The One.  It was small.  And maybe it is really all about size with Christmas trees. 

I remember one year as a child when money must have been exceptionally tight because we had no tree.  Then on Christmas Eve, Dad went out and cut a branch from a very large fir tree.  It was a very big branch and so it really was, in effect, a Christmas Tree. We decorated it and I loved it. Even that "tree" was large.  Tree 2016 is not. 

I have tried to love it with each day that it sat in its (little) pot on the patio.  From Day 1 I wanted to rush out and buy a "proper" tree.  But The Photographer told me to ignore my knee-jerk reaction, I just need to calm down. Give myself some time to love it.  Live with it for this one year.  If it doesn't work out, then next year we'll go big again.  He offered to feed it Baby Bio.  

I acquiesced.

We installed the tree indoors a few days ago.  The Baby Bio hasn't worked.  It's still small.  Despite standing it on a little chest.

But I put my negative thoughts behind me and allowed it to be draped with lights in readiness for the ceremonial dressing of the tree the next day.

(And look, even its spin doctor has turned his back on it!).

Obviously it couldn't take the full complement of decorations I've collected over the years.  So I made an executive decision.  This year, the tree will be decorated with just the "kiddy" decorations.

A little helper came round to help me decorate it.  It's been a little tradition we've had ever since I felt she could be trusted with delicate glass balls.  She's become a deft and artistic

Co-Decorator of the Christmas Tree.

And so we piled on the decorations on to the (small) tree .  It took all of 5 minutes :-).

Bird of Joy.  I have three of these little birds with red, pink and blue patterned wings and beady eyes.  They have to go on the tree, no matter what its size.

Some ten years ago I made more than 70 of these and sent them as Christmas cards.  It was the work of many evenings (evenings, as I was working at the time).  A recipient called it The Bird of Joy.  She puts it on her tree each year.  I hope at least some of the recipients have since kept theirs as tree decorations, for that was my hope. 

It dawned on me as we decorated that, over the years, I have built up a definite bird theme. Without intending to.  It must have been subliminally started by The Bird of Joy.

Some treasured decorations have been hand-made by friends, which I've received as gifts.

Pearls.

And a shoe. A girl has to have a token shoe hanging on her tree.  This is Cinderella's glass slipper.

And so the tree was decorated.  Lots of presents now sit around its base.  

And it's still small.

Whilst my little helper and I decorated the tree, The Photographer was Building A Little Birdhouse in his Soul - well, out in the garden, actually, with another little helper.   OK, that was all lyrical license, the birdhouse was already built; they were topping it up with seed and nuts and hanging a few feeders inside the pergola.  His little helper is becoming very keen on nature.

The weather is very mild and sunny at the moment.  Expect all that to change on Wednesday.  Gales forecast.  Batten down the hatches.  Or at least the garden furniture. And the bird table.

So, (small) tree, decorated.  Birds, fed.  Now what about me?

When shopping for tinsel at the nearby garden centre, we treated ourselves to lunch. 

And then we checked out the ice rink set up in the centre.

No, that figure is not me.   There is no shot of The Pout skating expertly on the rink.  Ain't gonna happen.  My first (and probably only) attempt at skating was at The Rockerfeller Centre in New York, a Christmastime family holiday some years ago. V. embarrassing story.  I think I'd have more success keeping upright in the (small) tree's glass slipper than I would on a pair of skates!

A la perchoine.