Looking at Outfit Ideas for Travel....

I've been looking at outfit ideas for travel this Spring.  I know it's kind of early, but it's never to early to start getting ideas.  Just means you can edit out what you don't need sooner before you start the packing.  Also, I know that when you travel you should always pack light, but I don't think you should sacrifice looking good either.  So it's trying to find the right balance of things.  So I've been collecting ideas.  So here are a few thoughts for outfits.  Enjoy!

Images from Polyvore

Black Deals for a Spring Trip....

So the holiday shopping event has begun as the gates opened early Friday morning and the wolves took forth to the aisles for their gold of goods.

For me, it started Thursday in front of the TV as I was watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I love to hunt for the deals online early.  Also so I don't have to run to the store at all hours of the night for the best deal.  Some things just aren't worth it. 

So I've been looking for things for the trip.  I know we need new travel bags, and ones that are safe.  So I got the small black shoulder bag and the red/orange bag for everyday traveling around and sightseeing.  The tote is for air travel, cause my old tote gave out last year.  Also it will double as a purse.  The red wallet/purse is for day and night use.  I wanted something that could multitask, and for safety I can hook it to me.  Lastly, my camera is starting to frizz out on me; so found a good deal on a new one.  I have to take good pics of London!

Did you guys find any good deals this weekend?  Any thing for your next travel event?  Enjoy!

Image from Me; Items: black & red bags; camera; tote & wallet

Thankful for a Tart....

So that time of the year has come again!  Thanksgiving... or how I call it, Turkey Day!  So what is everyone thankful for this year?  I know I'm always happy for family & friends, and that everyone is healthy & safe.  I'm also very thankful for the yummy food we are having tomorrow (as any foodie would be..lol!).  Well, I wish everyone a happy turkey day and safe travels this weekend.  

Here's a little something to make for your Thanksgiving morning (or any time of the day).  It's really good with tea.  So yummy!  Enjoy!

Italian Almond Raspberry Tart 

(Makes one 9 1/2-inch tart)

Ingredients:

For the Tart Dough:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

9 tablespoons (4 1/2 oz) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 extra large egg

For the Filling:

8 tablespoons (4 ounces) unsalted butter at room temperature

1-8 ounce can almond paste, broken into 1-inch pieces

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 extra large eggs at room temperature

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

pinch of kosher salt

1/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1/3 cup raspberry preserves (Note - I used a little more, maybe 1/2 cup)

1/3 cup sliced almonds

Directions:

For the Tart Dough:

• In the bowl of a food processor, add the flour, sugar, and salt.  
• Pulse until combined.  
• Scatter the butter pieces over the flour.  
• Process in short bursts until the butter is the size of peas.  
• Add the egg and process in long pulses, about 5-7 seconds until the dough has started to clump.  
• Place a piece of plastic wrap on the counter and dump the dough onto the surface.  
• Using the plastic wrap and the back of your hands, gently press the dough into a disk.  
• Wrap tightly with the plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

Preheat the oven to 375º F.  

Remove the dough from the refrigerator.  

If refrigerated overnight, let it rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.  

On a  lightly floured work surface, roll the dough out into a 12-inch circle, flouring the dough and surface as necessary to keep the dough from sticking.  

Roll up the dough around the rolling pin and gently unroll it over an 9 1/2-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.  

Fit the dough into the edge of the pan.  

Roll the rolling pin over the top of the pan to remove the excess dough (let the kids practice their baking skills with the scraps).  

Place the tart onto a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or place in the freezer for 15 minutes. 

Line the tart pan with aluminum foil and fill with dried beans or pie weights.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove the weights and foil and bake for another 3-5 minutes.  Place on a rack to cool.  Reduce the oven temperature to 350º F.

For the Filling:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until smooth.  
• Add the almond paste, one piece at a time, beating well after each addition.  
• While mixing, gradually add the sugar.  
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  
• Mix in the lemon zest and salt.  
• Stir in the flour until completely combined.

Using an off-set spatula, spread the preserves evenly over the bottom of the tart shell.  

Place spoonful dollops of the filling over the preserves and gently spread to completely cover the preserves.

Sprinkle the top of the tart with the sliced almonds.  

Bake until the filling is golden brown and firm to the touch, about 35-45 minutes.  

Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.  

Carefully remove the side of the tart pan and slide the tart onto a serving platter. 

Images from Me; Recipe from The Galley Gourmet

And the Trip Is...

So after careful thinking (& budgeting) we have decided to go to... London!!  Why you may ask?  Well, we've been to Japan (twice), so that's out for now.  Paris, hubby was really nervous to try and speak French to go.  So we decided to start our travels of Europe in London.  (Also, Samantha Brown, from the Travel Channel, said it's a good place to start for newbies to Europe. So off we go!)

We plan on going in the Spring. (Hope it's not snowing like it is in the pic below. LOL..)  Can't wait though!  Now for the planning and deciding what to wear/bring.  More stuff to come!  Enjoy!

Image from wehearit

Thinking of a Trip...Where to go?

So my hubby's and I are thinking we need to get away next year.  Thinking about a real trip away.  We haven't been on a real trip in ............. hmmmm, not sure when.  So it's been a long time!  haha...  Lately, it's only been trips to visit home/family.  We have also (like most people) been saving and paying down debt.  So we decided to start saving for a trip a few months ago.  Also we've come up with three places we are thinking about visiting.  They are (1) Japan, (2) London, (3) Paris.

Here's the thing on why we picked these three.  First off, we LOVE Japan!! Also, my hubby's family lives there.  So it's nice to visit them.  Although, we've been to Japan before, but it's been awhile.  So we thought maybe we'd try somewhere new this time around, like London or Paris.  Now I've never been to Europe before, but my hubby has.  We don't speak French, but it would be fun to try.  (Hubby's really nervous about speaking French than I am.)  I've always wanted to visit London and Paris.  London because most of my family came from Great Britain, loved Princess Di, the history, museums; art, love tea, etc.  Paris because the history, fashion, art museums, Versailles, shopping, Eiffel Tower, Macarons, etc.  

So it's been really hard to chose which one to visit.  We also looked at the cost of each trip and which one we could afford/save for in time for the 'off season' travel in Europe and Japan.  This way airline and hotels cost would be down.   (This is the frugalness in me coming out now a days.  Can't help it.)  Can you guess where we picked to go?

Which place would you pick and why?
 

Images from Weheartit

Everything's Coming Up Pumpkins....

Hello everyone!!  Sorry, I've been MIA for a long time.  I've been busy with other things and had a very bad case of writers block.  (Not sure if anyone else gets a bad case of the 'writer's block'! LOL!!)  But the good news is that I have more food posts for you all.  Can't believe Thanksgiving is next week!  Where did this year go to?  Oh well, hope you like this recipe I found and tried last night.  It's REALLY good!!  (I've had three already today....so bad!!)  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Danish 

Yield: 8 pastries
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 15 min.

Ingredients for pastry:

• 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature (Fat free or non-fat free)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• dash kosher salt
• 2 sheets (1 box) frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 1/3 cup egg whites for wash

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. (Note: I waited to do this till I put the Danish into the refrigerate for 15 minutes.)
2) Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. 
3) Mix first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl on low speed until creamy and smooth. 
4) Carefully unfold pasty making sure there are no tears or cracks.


 

5) Cut the dough sheets into fourths and spoon a heaping tablespoon of the pumpkin mixture into the center of each of the 4 squares. 
6)Brush the border of each pastry with egg-white wash and fold 2 opposite corners to the center, brushing and overlapping the corners of each pastry so they firmly stick together. 
7) Brush the top of the pastries with egg-white wash. 

8) Place the pastries on the prepared sheet pan.


 

9) Repeat with the remaining sheets of puff pastry and refrigerate the filled Danish for 15 minutes. 
10) Bake the pastries for about 20 minutes, until puffed and brown.

Optional:

Ingredients for glaze

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 Tbsp milk

Whisk powdered sugar and milk together until smooth glaze forms. Drizzle over pastries and top with sprinkle with more powdered sugar, if desired. 

Recipe from The Stirring Place; Pics from me