Ice Cream Dessert Table

I was bored one day and decided that I would make a dessert table.  Without a whole lot in the house, I opted for an "ice cream" theme.  I had bought some ice cream cut-outs from Michael's last year when they clearance and had put them in storage, so I figured it would be a good time to whip them out.

I made the cake, cupcakes and cookies.  I'm getting a lot better at managing the royal icing on the sugar cookies now.  I think they turned out great.  I was pleased! The ice cream & popsicle-inspired chocolates I bought at a local drug store along with the marshmallow ice cream cones.  I lined the marshmallow ice cream cone vessel with different shades of pink and white ribbon to give it some texture.  I also had ice cream cones filled with cotton candy on the ends of the table.

A little bit of ice cream seems like an appropriate way to end the summer. Look out September...here we come!

xo Ceilidh

Karl Lagerfeld for Macy's

Are you ready?! Tomorrow is when the floodgates open for Karl Lagerfeld for Impulse at Macy's.  Keep your fingers pressed to your keyboards and have your credit cards ready. 

Here are my favorite pieces:

Karl Graphic Tee; Photo Courtesy of oh-so-coco.tumblr.com



Short Puff Sleeve Gathered Waist Tulle Trim Dress; Photo Courtesy of cocoperez.com

Montage Printed Scraf; Photo Courtesy of cocoperez.com

Short Sleeve Ponte Sleeve Dress; Photo Courtesy of cocoperez.com

On your mark, get set...GO!

 xo Ceilidh

Movie Theatres in France: Popcorn, Tickets and More

Visiting a movie theatre in France is a little different than here in North America.

Buying Tickets
The going rate for to see a movie in theatres is about 10€ (similar to what we would pay here).  However, if you frequent the theatre on a regular basis there is also the option to buy an annual pass allowing you to see as many movies as you for about 18€ per month.  A pretty good deal considering it is less than the cost of buying two full-price tickets per month.

Waiting in Line
After purchasing the tickets, you are not able to go directly into the theatre.  You must wait outside (not outside the theatre, but outside the entire building) before you are admitted in.  Lesson to be learned: don't buy your tickets too early if you don't want to wait outside for a long period of time.

Salé ou Sucré?
What is a movie without popcorn? Well, at least that's what I thought! It turns out the French just aren't that fascinated with eating popcorn in the theatre.  They'd rather enjoy the film without all of the munching and slurping going on...which explains the utter lack of cupholders on the seats. Unlike the large concession stands we have in North America, the concession stands in France are minuscule at best.  Popcorn and pop (along with an assortment of ice creams and popsicles) can be purchased for a reasonable price but not many people do so.  At least there are no line-ups that you have to wait in!  There is also that infamous question: salé ou sucré? Followed by my puzzled face and subsequent Huh? It turns out there are two types of popcorn...sugared and salted! Who knew there were different kinds?! Salted popcorn is about the equivalent of what we have here except perhaps a bit more salty.  Sugared popcorn is not caramel corn, rather, popcorn that has been buttered then tossed in sugar.  Note that the popcorn is not freshly popped in front of you either.

Dedicated to my brother, who is convinced that the dentists "pulled a bag of popcorn out of [his] teeth" on his last visit to their office.

xo Ceilidh

Enjoy your Sunday :)

Ahhhh...it feels nice to have a weekend off from work and school for a change! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday everyone :)

I love this mock Eiffel Tower I saw in a window display on my way to the Monoprix one day.  I wish I could have added this one to my collection!
xo Ceilidh

A Week of Sweets: Ladurée

The pinnacle of all sweets in Paris, the bread and butter if you will, is Ladurée.  Today we'll wrap up our Week of Sweets and celebrate today's opening of the first Ladurée store in the United States in Manhattan!

When I think of Ladurée, obviously the first thought that comes into my mind is their macarons, but my mind also fills with sweet memories of pastel colors, beautiful shops and drop-dead gorgeous accessories!

My favorite flavor of macaron has to be rose.  It is very feminine and sweet.  I also love the taste of the vanilla macarons.

What do you love about Ladurée?

xo Ceilidh

Fashion Friday: Lace

Lace is in for fall.  Think ultra-feminine with a flair for fun! Here are some of my favorite lace fashion finds for fall:


Banana Republic Mad Men Collection Lace Dress (here)

Victoria's Secret Lace Pullover (here)

Dior Lace Peep Toe Platform Pumps (here)

Valentino Black Plastic Lace Detail Large Tote Bag (here)

TopShop Rose Lace Tights (here)

Happy Shopping!

xo Ceilidh

A Week of Sweets: Angelina

My husband and I went to Angelina for breakfast on the day of our first wedding anniversary. We had gone to Angelina once previously and had split the Parisian Breakfast,  but opted to get our own this year.

The Parisian Breakfast comes with the famous Angelina hot chocolate (or tea or coffee if you'd prefer), a juice (orange, grapefruit or lemon), a croissant, pain au chocolat, raisin bread and bun. Served with butter, 2 types of jam and honey. Cost was 20 euros/each.

The breakfast was tasty, but eating all of it together is quite sweet, filling and heavy. I'd mainly came here to try the hot chocolate again (which is delicious by the way). I think when I visit Paris next I will either split the breakfast with my husband again or just get the hot chocolate. I found it was too much to eat all of it!

The hot chocolate  is bascially like a dark chocolate bar that has been melted and mixed with a bit of cream. It is quite heavy. You get enough for about 2 teacups full of hot chocolate in the pitcher they provide you. Whipped cream is also served with the hot chocolate. It is very good, but make sure you come with an empty stomach!

The restaurant is usually quite busy during peak hours and the tables were quite small, but service was fairly prompt.  No complaints.

xo Ceilidh

A Week of Sweets: Hugo & Victor

Check out these delicious looking spheres and caramels from Hugo & Victor.  They're so pretty that you almost don't want to eat them!

xo Ceilidh

A Week of Sweets: Pierre Hermé

Well, all I can say is that I hope you really like these pictures.  I mean, really like them.

I splurged on a box of twelve delicious Pierre Hermé macarons.  Twelve macarons which I had every intention of eating.  Every last one of them.

Before delving into my first bite of these beauties, I figured I should take a few pictures beforehand.  I took a picture of them on the bookshelf, followed by a picture of them on a windowsill. 

What happened next, words can really not describe...but if they could, I think "horrific" would be the best word to use.  My box of twelve perfectly-made, delicious-smelling Pierre Hermé macarons fell five stories onto a ledge that could not be reached by hand, nor by ladder (...there was a painter working across the street whose ladder we would have borrowed if only it would have been large enough to reach!)

 

So, there sat my macarons.  Just out of reach, never to be eaten or enjoyed to their full potential.

Friends, feast your eyes on the pictures above.  Enjoy the eye candy above, visit Pierre Hermé on rue Bonaparte and live by the words that follow:

Never place a full box of Pierre Hermé macarons (especially if they are in a round box) on a windowsill while the window is open!

xo Ceilidh

A Week of Sweets: La Cure Gourmande

While strolling on Ile Saint-Louis I stropped in the most delectable sweet shop.  La Cure Gourmade carries candies, lollipops, caramels, chocolates and cookies.  I love the hard candies they sell.  My favorites were the cherry and apricot flavors.

There is also another nearby store located in central Paris which can be found on rue de Rivoli.  For that something to cure your sweet tooth, visit La Cure Gourmande.

xo Ceilidh

A Week of Sweets: Fauchon

Auguste Fauchon started his store at 26 rue de la Madeleine over one hundred years ago and has since expanded to include a wine cellar, tea salon, bakery & patisserie and exotic product retailer.

Nowadays, Fauchon is best known for their sweets, teas and pastries though they offer a wide range of products and services.

The overall look of the store is very modern.  The black and pink color scheme is very chic.  I love this fluorescent sign...

We will continue with our Week of Sweets tomorrow.  Until then...



xo Ceilidh