Cheers to a beautiful weekend

Oh boy, it's Friday! This morning I woke up thinking it's Thursday and only realized that it's in fact Friday while reading the morning newspaper. Ah the little things in life! Anyway, what are you up to this weekend? Balazs and I are on a gift buying mission, so this weekend will be all about getting a few little gems around the city, window shopping and eating ricotta-spinach dumplings (recipe next week). Speaking of gift giving, if by any chance you missed our gift guides so far, you can catch on all the gems here. Also, as always here are a few fun links for you to check out over this cold November weekend. Enjoy, loves!

I am totally smitten with the idea of frocktails! Oh yes:)

What's your best piece of advice?

Sweet little guide for girls - gems under $50!

Moodboard perfection.

One awesome sculpture!

Oh, I still love kids Christmas books! You?

Yellow-dipped shoes? Oh yes!

I want to try this butternut squash bread pudding.

:)

WOW, how to make your own cutting board. (Perfect for cheese).

I have such a girl crush on her:)

Love those shoes.

Printable and oh-so sweet Christmas gift tags.

How awesome is this geo advent calendar?

After looking at those photos, I'm excited for winter.

I am swooning over Emma's skirt!

Fancy a new calendar for  2013? (I just got nr.9).

Giggle-worthy!

Or maybe you'd rather go for a tea towel calendar?

A few snazzy hairstyles for winter cold!

Also, don't miss our giveaways this week: the snazzy hat giveaway and the sassy earrings giveaway! Hurry up!

Loves, see you Monday morning! xoxo

P.S: Fancy a bit of chit-chat? Join me on Twitter, Facebook or even Pinterest.

(Photo via That Kind of Woman)

This Week's Gems

I'd love to wear this oversized knit sweater today:) It's freezing outside...

How cool is this cloud cutting board?...

There is nothing better than a pair of snug long socks in winter, is there?

The perfect festive dress. It's pleated and it has a beautiful peter pan collar with gold sequins! Check it out...

Aww...how charming is this deer antler necklace?...

Tea Rex = Brilliant!...
Swoon!...

I LOVE this chevron wrapping paper!...

WOW, those crystal volcano Swarovski studs are spectacular in a perfectly understated way. Don't you think? ...

Eek, those cashmere undies look cozy:)...

If you're not brave enough to wear tons of sparkle this Christmas, this navy triple wrap bracelet with a gold tassel will do the trick for sure! (On my wish list)...

What a perfect festive party piece! I love that necklace:)...

Happy Friday, loves. What caught your eye this week? Any great finds or buys?

P.S: Also, shopping for Christmas gifts this weekend? Here are a few cool things you might like.

exPress-o Originals: Winter Tea

Have you ever made your own herbal or fruit tea? Recently Balazs and I were invited to our friend’s house for a casual dinner party. The wonderful surprise was that Tom welcomed everyone with a glass of homemade hot (since it’s super cold already) winter tea. It was such a wonderful gesture! It instantly made everybody feel at ease and since the mix itself smelled divine, it created a wonderful conversation starter.

Well, after the party was over I emailed him to ask for the recipe and I found out that it is actually a soothing mix of apples, lemon, ginger, dates and honey. It’s perfect as a winter drink and it’s great in fighting winter cold as well. Win-win!

 

Here is the full how to if you fancy trying it yourself or treating your guests to something delicious this festive season:

 

Pour 4.5 liters of water, 1 cup of sliced ginger, 1 cup of dried dates, 4 sliced apples in a large pot and let it simmer for 2 hours. Strain and serve hot, warm or on ice with a bit of honey for the sweetness and a slice of lemon for the extra vitamin kick. Ta dah!

 

P.S: Fancy more tea? How about geen sun tea, plus a few other of my favourite recipes. Dig in!
P.P.S: Oh, and let's not forget about the superfood mocktail!

 

Loves, would you try it? xo

 

(Thanks Tom. Recipe originally by Mrs. Ko. Photos by exPress-o. Layout by Ana Degenaar - Blog Milk for exPress-o. Thank you Ana for your help with this series).

Christmas Gift Guide 2012: *Part Two* For Dapper Gents

To continue with the hunt for the perfect gift this festive season, today I'd like to share a few fun gems for a dapper gent as it's Balazs 38th birthday.

So without further ado, here are 14 gent-approved-gems for your foxy husband, James Bond-like father, stylish grandpa, dapper boyfriend or even the swoonworthy guy that lives on the 6th floor and just invited you for his Christmas party next week. Yay! All those guys in your life that love sporting glasses, have messy yet so stylish hair, like experimenting with a beard or a stash to keep things interesting and think that you're the most foxy or sweet girl around!

Here we go:

1.This super unique coffee mill for his morning cuppa ($70). Bonus for us, ladies: a man who smells of cologne-and-coffee-mix is simply irresistible:).

2. Only a dapper can pull off this New York City made slim chambray tie ($75). It's a true treat that he will enjoy forever + boys treat their ties like girls cherish their scraves.

3. A brilliant book: The Moustache Grower's Guide ($9.95) to help him achieve the stash of his dreams and to tell him how proud you are that he is taking part in the Movember movement each year (even though he only does it for you).

4. Well, if he loves beer, this beer making kit ($39.95) is made for him!

5. This key bottle opener ($15) for the evenings when he picks up a bottle of beer on the way home and wants to drink it right away. (Bonus: he will never loose the home key again - *wink*).

6. How about this stripe thermos ($35) to make his work commute more enjoyable with a steamy cup of hot chocolate?

7. Those navy blue deck shoes ($56) are for the hipster in him.

8. You know what they say, you can always tell a man by his shoes. So why don't you treat him to those awesome shoes shine wipes ($7.95). Job well done!

9. Hippo pencil holder ($128) so he can always think of you when he glances on his work desk:)

10. This silicone ice ball ($12) is perfect for the gent who loves to sip on scotch or whiskey after a long day.

11. Folding comb ($18) like the one his dad used to have:)

12. Giggle - a stylish set of mustaches, whether he can grow his own stash or not. Who wouldn't want to have a hero-stash for a day or two! ($7.50)

13. This elegant whale tie bar ($30) would fit like wine and cheese with the NYC slim tie above. Plus, whales are his thing! (No big deal).

14. A set of "good grief" glasses ($38). Check out what's written on them - giggle! Just for fun:)

Loves, did you spot anything you like? xo

P.S: Also, here are six 2010 gift guides and five 2011 gift guides, including a few other fun gift ideas for guys.
P.P.S: Plus, this year's guide for the Parisian Mademoiselle at heart. Oh la la!

(Layout by Natalie Broulette from The SoHo blog for exPress-o. Thank you Natalie for your help with this series.)

Travel Fantasy: Bergen in Norway

Have you ever been to Norway? A few days ago Jamie posted about her recent trip there and ever since then I can not stop thinking about Bergen. It's a city in Norway that in Dutch means mountains. During this time of the year the whole place is foggy, moody, calm and dark - very mythical. The only thing I want to do right now is to fly there and spend countless days hiking all bundled up in a cozy scarf, an itchy hat and tons of layers. I would also love to spend foggy mornings by the water while drinking coffee from a thermos and hopefully (fingers crossed) have a chance to spot red deers that naughtily sneak around residential areas to nibble on flowers and apples. Le sigh.

 

Fancy joining in, loves? xo

 

P.S: Also, Lofoten Islands.

P.P.S: And if you love all things Scandinavia, you should check out Marie Forsberg on Instagram. She lives on the Northen Isle and takes the most amazing photos of her island. I am hooked! (Thanks, Patricia)

 

Wednesday Giveaway

Today’s giveaway is from Julie Sinden Handmade, a chic and cozy Toronto based hat and scarf shop run by an award winning textile artist, Julie. The main fabric she uses for her line is boiled wool, which is super warm, durable and oh-so elegant.

Today, Julie is offering one lucky person a chance to win this ribbon hat (value $55). Oh la la, isn't that amazing? I guarantee that as soon as you put on this beauty, it will make you feel like a true Parisian strolling down the little twinkling alleys of Montmarte. I simply adore the 1920s flapperesque vibe of it and paired up with a scarf and a snazzy coat, it makes for a perfectly sassy winter uniform.

 

For a chance to win you should be a follower of exPress-o + like Julie Sinden's Facebook page. Also, please visit Julie Sinden shop and tell us which piece is your favourite from the shop. As always the giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random on Sunday night. Good luck! xo

For extra entires:
Follow exPress-o on Twitter, follow Julie on Twitter, join exPress-o group on Facebook, follow Julie Sinden on Pinterest, follow exPress-o on Pinterest, sign up for Julie Sinden newsletter or tweet about the giveaway and please make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.
 

Foxy Holiday Nails

What’s your festive nail polish of choice this year? Last night I treated myself to a quick manicure on my way home from a super exhausting meeting. I wasn't sure what shade I'd like to try so I simply asked for a darker-moodier colour. The lovely lady transformed my boring nails into festive ruby fruit goodness. It's official: ruby fruit by Max Factor is my guilty and oh-so foxy Christmas pleasure. J'adore! What shade are you wearing right now? xo

P.S: Three ways to va va voom!
P.P.S: A super snazzy (and very French) GIVEAWAY Wednesday is coming up!

(Photos via Stephanie, Muus and by Matt Lever)

exPress-o Film Club: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Have you seen Seeking a Friend for the End of the World? What did you think? It's a very new film that we watched over the Thanksgiving weekend. It's one of those movies that 2 minutes into it, you can not help but fall utterly and completely in love with it. Even though Steve Carell and Keira Knightley are the worst match on paper, in the movie they just work like butter and bread - smooth, fulfilling and making you crave for more. It’s a story of two people who lived in the same building for the past few years but never before spoke to each other till the day the whole world got the news that it’s ending. His wife left him, and Keira's character was stuck in a hopeless relationship...and the only thing they wanted was to spend the last days with someone they truly cared about. It's a heartfelt, beautiful, sweet film when you just need a bit of romance, a dash of hope and a whole lot of wonderful. Sounds like a film for you?

Bits and bobs:

- Steve is the vioce of the evil villan with a soft side in Despicable Me. (It's such a gem).

- Steve's real-life wife Nancy Carell played the leaving wife.

- Keira and Steve talking about the movie.

-  Oh boy, "Between two Ferns" with Steve Carell and Zach Galifianakis:)

- Giggle, Ellen's revenge on Steve.

- Wasn't Keira amazing in the Chanel Coco Mademoiselle ad? (I loved her hairdo).

- Have you seen Pride and Prejudice? She was incredible!

- John Krasinski on Steve . It's so funny!

- Haha, Steve saluts Steve.

- Keira and Ellen having a tea party:)

- How to make the most of porcelain skin like Keira's.

- Keira and Vogue - Oh la la!

- She was also awesome in the Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl.

- Keira had a little role in Star Wars: Episode 1 in 1999. She played Sabé:)

- Steve also nailed it in Date Night alongside Tina Fey.
- Also, Melanie Lynskey aka Rose from Two and a Half Men played brilliantly.

P.S: And a few other films that rock my world right now.

(Photos via IMDb)

Christmas Gift Guide 2012: *Part One* For The Parisian Mademoiselle At Heart

Yup, it's this time of the year again and I must say, that just the thought of shopping for Christmas gifts no matter how chaotic it can get, it puts a smile on my face. How do you feel? Have you started your gift spotting already? I just love the feeling when someone I love opens a gift I chose and their face lights up. Priceless!

Well, if you’re (by any chance) still undecided on what to get your dapper husband, foxy friend, adorable niece, goddess of mom, sweet grandparents or treat your next desk work-friend to something special, then you are in luck! For the next few weeks all the way to Christmas I'll be posting gift ideas for all budgets, ages and all different interests.

So today let's start with 14 gems simply made for a friend/sister/co-worker/aunt/niece or even your next door neighbour who loves all things French, wears a beret, lipstick, rosy cheeks, ballerinas, messy buns and knows a thing or two about layering. (wink).

Here we go:

1. A set of three Loccitane almond soaps ($15) so she can keep her skin all smooth and delicate during winter gloominess. (The smell is irresistible as well).

2. Paris in Color, ($13.57) the most dreamy coffee table book with tons of photos of the most romantic city in the world. Perfect for the quiet candle-lit evenings on the sofa.

3. Sassy winter hat with a Parisian twist ($60) to make her feel oh-so-French.

4. The wooden dog ($128) just so she can think of you each time she spots it on her desk.

5. No Parisian passes on a good lipstick. Rouge Allure lipstick ($34) in "passion" is just the thing for her.

6. A "oui" ring ($27). Oh, yes!

7. I Know How To Cook ($19.16) for the French goddess at heart, so she can whip up a croque monsier like nobody's business.
 
8. Treat her to a real French delicacy with this French butter: Beurre Bretagne butter with Fleur Guerande. Oh yum and so perfect for mornings with croissants.

9. Set of three snazzy nail polish colours as she loves all things sparkly: glamorous gold glitter with 24K gold dust ($20), foxy ruby red ($18) and let's go crazy purple glitter ($18).

10. Yup, je t'aime tote bag ($19).

11. A pair of those beautifully understated studs ($30) will be perfect for her winter layers uniform.

12. Paris print ($60) - a sweet reminder of her favourite city!

13. Midnight in Paris ($5) a go-to movie for her chillaxing weekends in.

14. A pair of dotty Bensimons ($50) to brace the streets of Paris with tons of style and a dash of sass.

Loves, did you spot anything you like? xo

P.S: Also, here are six 2010 gift guides and five 2011 gift guides, including gems for cheese lovers - yum!

(Layout by Natalie from The SoHo blog for exPress-o. Thank you Natalie for your help with this series. Ring photo by Garance Doré).

The SFPH: Spicy Japanese Pumpkin Cream Soup

Are you still on a pumpkin kick like me? I’ve been enjoying it to the fullest this season in pies, coffee, salads and of course, soups. A few days before Thanksgiving I spotted a Hokkaido Japanese pumpkin in the Farmers' Market so I got it to see if I can use it for our festive soup. It was a hit! The awesome part about this little beauty is that you don’t have to peel it so it saves you tons of time and energy. It has the most wonderful chestnut undertone and mixed with a bit of chilli and topped off with honey roasted apples, it makes for a mouth-watering combination.  

And let’s face it, what’s better on a cold November evening than a bowl of a steamy soup on a sofa and under a blanket!

Here is the recipe:

Spicy Japanese Pumpkin Soup
(Adapted from Josephine Malene Kofod - A Tasty Love Story. Makes 2-3 servings)

* 1 medium sized Hokkaido pumpkin (chopped to small pieces)
* 2 carrots
* 1/2 of a medium sized celeriac
* 1 apple (peeled and chopped to small pieces)
* 5 cups chicken broth
* 1/2 chilli, red, hot and fresh
* 2 small onions
* 5 cloves of garlic
* 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
* 1/2 cup cream (fat 8-12%)
* 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
* Salt & pepper

Honey roasted apples

* 1 apple, cut into slim boats
* 3 Tbsp honey
* 1 tsp butter

Extras

* pumpkin seeds

Wash, peel and chop celeriac, carrots and onions, pumpkin and apple. Split the chilli open and remove the seeds. In a soup pot, heat up oil and add all of the vegetables and sauté for 5-6 minutes. Next, add the chicken broth and let it simmer until the vegetables get tender, approximately 25-30 min. In the meantime, in a skillet roast pumpkin seeds, until they appear golden and are popping. Remove and set aside. Next, add butter to the skillet along with the apples boats and honey. Sauté for about 4 minutes on medium heat or until the apples are tender but with a slightly crispy middle and a beautiful glow. Set your apples and pumpkin seeds aside. Next, use a blender to blend the soup into a creamy smooth texture. Add more broth if it is too thick. Add the apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper and cream. Let it simmer for additional 2-3 minutes before serving. Serve the soup with the honey apples and pumpkin seeds on top! Ta dah.

 

Loves, do you eat soups weekly? My dad used to cook soups daily when I was little and back then I wasn’t fond of them but now I can not get enough of their creamy and soothing taste. You?

 

P.S: Fancy more soups? How about this one, this one, oh and this?

P.P.S: Plus a few other of my favoruite recipes. Dig in!

(Photos by exPress-o. Layout by Ana Degenaar - Blog Milk for exPress-o. Thank you Ana for your help with this series).

Monday Giveaway!

Today’s giveaway is from the Boutique Minimaliste, a stunning Lisbon based handmade jewelry shop run by the wonderful jewelry designer, Marta. Her line is inspired by ancient Geek and Roman history and culture. Her designs have a beautifully unique vibe and a minimalistic feel that will make you feel elegant no matter what you wear.

Today, Marta is offering one lucky person a chance to win a pair of those matte black dipped triangle earrings. Aren't they dandy? They would make a stylish and sassy everyday piece or a spot-on Christmas gift for your fashion-loving friend or a snazzy sister-in-law:) Psst: also, this necklace makes me swoon and this is the sweetest bracelet, like...ever!

For a chance to win you should be a follower of exPress-o, please visit Boutique Minimaliste and tell us which piece is your favourite from the shop. As always the giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random on Friday. Good luck! xo

For extra entires:
Follow exPress-o on Twitter, like Marta's Facebook page, join exPress-o group on Facebook, follow Boutique Minimaliste blog, follow Boutique Minimaliste on Twitter, follow exPress-o on Pinterest, follow Boutique Minimaliste on Pinterest or tweet about the giveaway and please make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.

Choose Your Eggs :)

Last night after eating way too much for the past three days, Balazs and I spent the evening watching reruns of Friends and laughing silly till the night. One of the episodes we watched was when Joey and Chandler had a huge argument over who's eggs Chandler likes more: a-la Joey (white bread with the hole in the middle) or a-la Eddie (new roommate scrambled eggs). Remember? According to Joey, every single person in the world has one kind of eggs made by one particular person they like best! Somehow eggs are always very defining in relationships, aren't they? Some of my friends have a whole relationship theory behind eggs :)

So this morning, let's talk (what else) eggs. What’s your favourite take on them: scrambled, omelette, dippy, baked, grilled, sunny side up or poached? (My favourite - dippy eggs & soldiers. It doesn’t get better than that for me but poached are a close second). Your turn!

P.S: Snazzy Monday GIVEAWAY is coming right up!
P.P.S: Plus, this genius egg trick.

(Photo via Francesca Roncagliolo)

Giveaway Winner

Drum rolls, please!
The winner of the UncommonGoods  $50 gift certificate GIVEAWAY is Jamillah. Congrats!! xoxo

P.S: Thank you all for playing...New giveaway is coming later today:)

Loves, happy Thanksgiving!

Happy and cozy Thanksgiving, loves! How are you spending today? I woke up bright and early to start on this deep-dish pie. Luckily we are not in charge of the turkey:). Today we are meeting a bunch of friends and their adorable kiddos for a big feast and tomorrow everyone is coming over to our place for more celebration (errr...drinking wine). We are planning to play some board games, listen to jazz, eat eat eat and watch a few movies. How about you?

If you are in a post-reading-type-of-mood in the next few days, please feel free to browse through exPress-o! Here are a few scrumptious last minute pie ideas and if you're looking for tricks to stress-free dinner tonight, have a look here. Oh, and don't forget to make this panini on Friday. It really is the best thing after Thanksgiving!

I'm super excited for next week! I'll start posting gift guides so we can all get started on Christmas shopping. Also, don't miss both of our giveaways this week: I Adorn U bracelet giveaway and the $50 UncommenGoods gift certificate giveaway.

And here are a few cool discount details for your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping fun!
- I Adorn U: 15% off with the code: expressoreader and 10% with the code: blackfri10
- Crave Jewelry Design: 15% off on jewelry with the code: etsyholidaysale
- Elisabeth Michael: up to 60% off
- ShopCuffs: up to 25%, 30% and 35% off if you spend $50+, $75+, $100+ with the codes: blackout50, blackout75 and blackout100
- Michelle Starbuck Designs: 20% off with the code: handmadeholidays
- Rabbit Foot Fern: 15% off with the code: handturkey

Loves, I'll see you all Monday morning (miss you already). xo

P.S: And speaking of wine, here are two handy little tips on saving leftover wine (if you happen not to drink it all) and last minute wine chilling.
P.P.S: If you fancy a bit of chit-chat, you can always catch me on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

(The adorable photo via My Fotolog)

Wednesday Giveaway

Today’s giveaway is from UncommonGoods, a fantastic online marketplace offering tons of amazing, creative, unique and very affordable products. If you are looking for ideas for a special gift, creative design or simply want to treat yourself to something cool - this is the place for you! I know I'll do my Christmas shopping there :) Plus, they are commited to not sell products that harm humans or animals. Bravo!

Today, UncommonGoods is offering one lucky person a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to their online shop. Isn't that awesome? I'd choose this stylish corkcicle for Balazs, those vases for my mom and this whiskey stones set for Balazs' dad. Plus, a little cheese board treat for myself. For more of their Christmas gift ideas click here and here for some adorable gems for stocking stuffers.

For a chance to win you should be a follower of exPress-o, please visit UncommonGoods and tell us what would you choose. As always the giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random on Sunday night. Good luck! xo

For extra entires:
Follow exPress-o on Twitter, like UncommonGoods on Facebook, join exPress-o group on Facebook, follow UncommonGoods on Twitter, follow UncommonGoods on Pinterest, follow exPress-o on Pinterest or tweet about the giveaway and please make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.

Nine Winter Ways To Get Lost In Paris

Have you ever been to Paris during the Holiday season? Would you like to go? Well, a few wonderful readers asked me to put together a little guide for non-turistic things you can do and places you can visit during the winter. So, since I am madly in love with the City of Light and we have been there a few times already, I put together a list of nine things I'd be doing there if I could fit in a short Christmas trip. Le sigh!

Here it is:

1. It's always a good idea to rent a flat or home-swap instead of staying in a hotel. This way you can really experience the feel of the city with its easy-going-approach. Like in the morning popping down to pick up a few freshly made croissants and pastries for breakfast. Make sure to enjoy the long lines for baguettes and the morning chatter. (Here is a wonderful video of what to buy and make sure to break this baguette rule - just because!)

2. Treat yourself to a little river bank picnic on Île Saint-Louis. It's the perfect place for a cozy, quiet and serene time out.

3. If you fancy re-living a scene from Midnight in Paris then visit Place Dauphine. It's a hidden little square and the place where they filmed the romantic night stroll scene. Get a coffee and enjoy the feel of it all:)

4. Grab a cuppa and climb up the Arc de Triomphe. The combination of walking, coffee and the breathtaking views will warm you right up!

5. Make a quick stop to Androuet Fromagerie aka the best cheese shop in France! It's a place that cheese-lovers will not want to leave. Androuet selects and matures all the handcrafted, farm and raw cheeses.

6. And when it gets darker, take a moody stroll down Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Hold hands with your love and enjoy a few stolen smooches.

7. The same evening stumble upon one of the few Noel á Paris aka Christmas markets that are glowing around the city. Grab a nutella crêpes and a cup of hot wine.

8. Of course your stay wouldn't be complete without visiting the Pont des Arts - the lovers bridge. It oozes romance on every possible level. The drill for lovers is to fasten a padlock to the railings and then toss the key into the Seine river below, symbolizing their eternal love.

9. And the last, but certainly not least on my list is people watching. Paris was made for it with all those amazing cafés and huge windows. It's truly the best way to get to know the city even if only through the café window.

P.S: An awesome GIVEAWAY Wednesday is coming up!
P.P.S: Plus, more breathtaking Paris:)

(Photos and tips by The Wandering Girl, The CaledonianMining, Paris in Four Months, City Room, A Well Traveled Woman, EuroVision, Jamie Beck & Irene Suchocki)

Telly Thanksgiving

Whether you're hosting Thanksgiving this year or crashing someone else's celebrations, there are 6 essential rules to your turkey day perfection. So without further ado, I present you the perfect mix of Thanksgiving awesomeness:

1. As Marie learned, tofu turkey is not a way to go for Thanksgiving. It jiggles too much:).

2. Never, ever underestimate the power of Joey's Thanksgiving pants or the hilariousness of turkey dance.

3. Yum, yum, yum it doesn't get better than Bart's cranberry sauce!...

4. Don't try to impress your in-laws with a fancy turkey-cutting-knife if you're, well a bit clumsy. Ouch!

5. Oh boy, do not forget Dwight's 17th rule on the turkey:)

6. And if you are simply over Thanksgiving, you can always go with slapsgiving:)

Darlings, what do you think? Fancy adapting any of those rules into your Thursday celebration? What are your plans for this Thanksgiving? Are you hosting? Traveling? Chilling? xo

P:S: 8 tips guys should take away from Friends.
P.P.S: And 10 life lessons I've learned from Seinfeld.

(Photos via Mommyish and Comedy Central)

exPress-o Originals: Crumbly Toffee

My darlings, do you find toffee irresistible? If so, oh boy, look what I made - crumbly toffee! After such a wonderful caramel candy feedback, I've got tons of requests for a crumbly version of it. So here it is in all its glory, sweetness and scrumptiousness.

As previously, it's super easy to make as the recipe only requires three ingredients and it makes for a perfect dinner-party gift. (That is if you don't eat it yourself).

Psst: Balazs was in heaven for the past two weeks while I was tweaking the recipe. I probably made close to 100 pieces and like a trooper, he ate them all - giggle.

So, let's get cooking:

Crumbly Toffee
(Adapted from Megenta. Makes about 30 pieces)

Ingredients:

* 2 cups sugar
* 2 cups whole milk (3% - 3.3%)
* 85 grams unsalted butter

First, place baking paper in a shallow baking pan and leave it for later. Next pour milk and sugar into a cooking pan and cook it on low heat while stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes. From that point on, you *must* stir all the time as you don’t want the mix to burn. About 30 minutes into the cooking time or as soon as your sugar-milk mix is getting thicker and becomes darker (coffee colour), add the butter and continue mixing for an additional 10 minutes. If you want to test if your toffee is ready, just scoop a bit of the mix onto a spoon and let it rest for about a minute. If it becomes solid quickly, you are ready. Transfer your mix into the pre-prepared baking pan and let it cool off for about 5 minutes before cutting it into small pieces and wrapping them in candy wrappings.

Important note: If you want the toffee to be gooey inside and crumbly outside cut the overall cooking time to 35-40 min instead of 50 minutes. 50 minutes cooking time is for inside-out crumbly toffee. Ta dah!

P.S: Fancy more takes on caramel? How about this grilled cheese sandwich, those tarts and that cake.
P.P.S: Plus a few other of my favoruite recipes. Dig in!

(Photos by exPress-o. Layout by Ana Degenaar - Blog Milk for exPress-o. Thank you Ana for your help with this series).

On a Rainy Day...

Crikey, what’s your first guess: are those paintings or photographs?

Yup, those are actually oil paintings by the incredibly talented artist, Gregory Thielker. Mind blowing, aren’t they?  In this series he magically takes us to the exact time and place of driving a car on a gloomy, rainy day. We have all done it. He wants us to relive the two main feeling every person has during those car rides: the warm fuzzy comforting feeling of being safe and dry and the other one, of struggle and uncertainty to navigate the car in such bad weather conditions.

I could spend all day looking at those pieces of art. Genius, isn’t it? xo

P.S: Fancy a road trip? And autumn in Vermont.
P.P.S: Plus, scratching the surface.

(Thanks Monica)