If I Were a Boy...

Years ago, I was given an homework assignment in which I had to ask my mum what name she would have bestowed upon me if I were a boy.

"Sebastian."


Really?

Now, I constantly imagine what I would look and be like if I were Sebastian. Probably a Dandy, a poet, a lover, a gypsy, with total disregard for the status quo. Poet shirts, jodphurs and the occasional top hat would be de rigueur in my wardrobe. My breath would smell of absinthe and my fingers stained with ink from penning memoirs and love letters to my muse. I would constantly travel to romantic places like Paris, the Bavaria, Prague, the beaches of Santorini and the villas of Tuscany, where I immerse myself in food, drink and poetry.

I think I would look like this:

I think, therefor I am.

The Weather Outside is frightful....

I have been sent home from work due to impeding weather. It’s very cold in my boudoir and my very small space heater is not adequate. It’s damp, dark and cold outside and my beloved is out buying wood for the fireplace. I am hoping for warmer weather for this weekend as I have been dying for a long bike ride.

Decadence

My favourite canapé recipe that I have been devouring as of late is Strawberries Liberté. My version is a bit more decadent:

Fresh strawberries cut small slice from the tip and hollow out the stems. Fill the cavities with a dollop of crème fraiche and top with a graceful spoonful of black caviar.

This, of course, should be enjoyed with a sparkling glass of champagne in front of a glowing fireplace.

Speechless...

Yeah, yeah, I know. I haven’t penned anything on here since the 5th. I am suffering from a bout of writer’s block.

The cure? Bellini martini(s).

I Want Candy....

I have an insatiable appetite for sweets. I love pastries, cakes, tortes, tarts, everything that is decorated, light, flaky and colourful. I was in bliss when I first watched Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette with all the decadent pasteries.

movie still from Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette:

One day, when I was channeling the Princess of Darkness (the explanation will be saved for a future post), my beloved asked me what he could do to banish my wicked mood.

“I want a cupcake.”

“What flavor?” he asked, puzzled by my request.

“I don’t care as long as it is pretty. I don’t want to eat it; I want to look at it.”

Yes, I really said that.

Within the hour, he returned with a bag from a bakery in hand. Inside was a chocolate mousse cupcake decorated with a tower of dark chocolate shavings and a chocolate lattice.

I contemplated its craftsmanship and then I devoured it. It was delish. Yes, life’s moment of decadence should be celebrated.

If and when I ever make it to Paris, my first stop will be the Ladurée patisserie. Their colourful macaroons are legendary.

Ladurée's macaroons