Weekend Rambles

This week was a long, tiring week.

There was nothing bad about it,
 in fact, it was packed full a lot of good/fun things.

If you follow my Instagram insanity,
you may have seen the non-stop line up 
that happened this week
Tower of London, Dover Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, Hampton Court, etc...
along with every tea room & bakery 
in between here & there.

But this morning we woke up groggy
with the immediate need to recover.

So we pushed the alarm to snooze,

cuddled the baby between us 

to convince her to sleep later,

and slept in till 11.

We walked around Portobello Road,

had lunch in one of our favorite pubs, The Pelican,

grocery shopped at the produce stalls & butcher,

queued up like lemmings for a cupcakes at Hummingbird,

and came home for an easy/early night back in the flat.

joining the masses all for a little bit of baked goodness. totally worth it, by the way.

Thanks for the hat, Caley!

A few hours out
with a day like that

and you'll be convinced

that the scales of life

are starting to tip back in your favor
and heavily on the side of awesome.

Except once we got home- 

the baby wouldn't nap,

the boeuf bourgnignon turned out to be more like boeuf soup...

and now, at 11:16, I'm sitting down

after cuddling a certain 7-month old 

who was definitely not wanting to go to bed.

(I suppose this was her form of payback for us conning her to sleep in?)

And perhaps this was my payback for her not going to bed?

Now I'm sitting here

feeling too tired to take a much needed bath,

defeated by the endless visa renewal whisper -talk

Tyler & I had while I rocked Viola,

and severely regretting offering my red velvet cupcake to Tyler

as he chomps in to it over an episode of Arrested Development.

Thank goodness tomorrow is a new day...

And for a husband who saved me the last bite of cupcake 
without me even asking.

*     *    *

Anyone have any special remedy 
for being really tired
and/or adding a few extra hours to the day?
I'll pay you in digestive cookies & ginger beer.

*all images original to Aspiring Kennedy

Homeward Bound

Every time Tyler and I have a free night,

I always ask for the same thing:

Can we lay in bed and watch a girly movie?

I don't think it has ever actually happened...

but if I have to fault Tyler for one thing

I guess ignoring this request

in lieu of getting Thai takeout and Arrested Development
isn't too severe of a mark against him.

Plus, he does the laundry

so I pick my battles.

I loved being pregnant for the very reason I was entitled to hibernate. I wished for bedrest!

So while my aspirations of lounging in bed
a la Charlie's grandparents 
as they wish him well for the chocolate factory
have yet to win out,
I could win big
with a lineup like this
for our next night in.

Too bad I couldn't find 

Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia to add to this lineup...

because that always join this house party.

What's your "normal" for a slacker night in?

Amber & Tyler: Notting Hill Engagement Shoot

If you don't know my friend, Amber, by now...

you should.

I was trying to think of her today

and how to best describe her

and the word "thoughtful" kept coming to mind.

I hope that everyone is as lucky as I am

to have a friend like Amber.

From hooking us up with the best hotel for our babymoon,

to the most beautiful "babies shower,"

to hosting & cooking for family after Viola was born,

and so many countless other ways 

she selflessly is a friend to me,

I feel truly honored to get to be a bridesmaid

in her upcoming wedding to Tyler.

No, not to my Tyler, 

her Tyler-

who deserves his own post for being great.

The wedding is also in Maui 

so, duh, I'm completely thrilled.

When I saw her engagement pictures,

I actually clapped with delight.

What can I say?

I'm a sucker for seeing

the people I love

being madly in love

in a neighborhood I love.

So here they are,

the Micklesons (to-be)

in all their Notting-Hill-lovey-dovey-goodness.

(And their little pup, Pippa!)

We love you both so much!

If you want to buddy up to Amber

(which I totally recommend)

start her by checking out her cute blog, 

Nouveau.


*    *   * 


If you're in the mood to look at more pretty pictures,
check out my maternity pics
taken in this same neighborhood
by the talented (and dear friend), Liz Denfeld.

*photography by Kytography

In Your Dreams, Baby Mama.

My good friend Beth Dotolo

is kind of famous.

At least,

you won't be able 

to convince me otherwise.

You've probably heard of her 

super cool totally unique design company,

PULP Design Studios.

{If not, now you have!}

She designed our little nursery

which you may have seen

on the Apartment Therapy tour

of our tiny flat from earlier this year.

{If not, now you have!}

You've probably already seen

that they are currently doing a giveaway

for a gorgeous nursery

worth $6000

together with Tottini.

{If not, now you have!}

The giveaway is open to US residents

and you can sign up

for your chance to win!

So what do you think?

Have you put your name in the hat to win?

{If not, now you should!!}

*    *   *

*photography by Kevin Dotolo

The Lovely Drawer: Peach & Lavender Cobbler

Before moving to Oxford,
my job in Dallas was selling paper.

Really nice, fancy letterpress paper.

We had pretty books of invitations 

to lavish weddings & bar mitzvahs 

that stores could use to show their customers

what our work looked like

and what options they had to customize these 

to make them perfect for this event.

In the back of the book,

clients could sift through envelope liner options,

row after row of different typefaces,

and of course- ink colors!

We had all of our ink colors 

lined up and, there, where the soft purple sat,

was a small swatch labeled "lavendar."

"Lavendar," in case you aren't familiar,

is a mispelling of the gorgeous provencal flower, "lavender."

I still cringe thinking about that typo...

and the return address that was from "Greenwitch, Connecticut."

My spelling & grammar needs had to eventually deal with it

and wait for the book to be corrected at the next reprinting...

but fortunately,

I can eat one of these YUMMY peach & lavender cobblers immediately.

Welcome back, Teri of The Lovely Drawer
(and my in-real-life friend)
for her monthly recipe of British goodness. 

We are always glad to have you here at AK!

*    *   *

Hello again and here is something sweet and yummy to get your taste buds excited. 

I always use this cobbler topping recipe as it's definitely my favourite. 
Perhaps it's the buttermilk that makes it taste so delicious and cakey! 

You may notice in this recipe the topping serves 6. 
Call me greedy but I like a generous hat on my fruit and so I've used it for 4. 

I decided to try making a peach version but adding a twist to the flavour.

 Enter lavender.

 I wasn't entirely sure these two flavours would go together
 but it was definitely worth the risk.

 You can use tinned or fresh peaches.
 I'm of the opinion that peaches are one of the few foods
 that are totally acceptable from a tin so go for it!

Peach & Lavender Cobbler

Here's what you'll need:

For the topping...

140g plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

25g butter

25g caster sugar

150ml buttermilk

1 tbsp demerara sugar

A sprinkling of cinnamon 

For the filling:

2 410g cans of tinned peaches (sieved) or 800g fresh (stoned and cut into slices if fresh)

25g caster sugar

1 tbsp of honey

1 tsp dried lavender (de-stemmed)

Serves 4. 

Preheat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. 

1) Firstly simmer the peaches in a pan with 25g of the caster sugar, the honey and the lavender for about 5 mins, until all the ingredients combine. Set aside to cool.

2) Then sift the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt into a mixing bowl.

3) Then rub in the butter with your fingers until it resembles breadcrumbs and stir in the caster sugar.

4) Mix in the buttermilk to give a soft, sticky mixture.

5) Spoon the cooled peaches into the 4 ramekins, distributing evenly and then spoon on the cobbler. 

6) Sprinkle with demerara sugar and cinnamon and cook for 25 mins or until golden brown.

7) Serve warm with a scoop of  ice-cream and a sprinkle of icing sugar on each.

 *   *   *

So... who's having me over tonight
so that I can eat some of this gorgeous, yummy goodness?

Any takers? :)

*images original to Aspiring Kennedy

Take Note: Fall Is Here.

While autumn may be a few degrees away 

from my friends back home, 

it arrived here in London earlier this week.

The summer slid away quietly

as the air got simultaneously crisp.

Luckily.

Even Viola is ready for the cool weather! 

After getting rid of all of my summer clothes

last summer in a fit of jaded angst against British weather,

warm weather was a bit awkward for me.

Also, remaining baby weight looks better under a coat.

{It's been proven by scientists.}

The bottom line is:

I'm glad to usher in the cooler weather

and get cozy.

While I'm all about coats,

I also love the hibernation

that comes along with the cooler weather.

I'm feeling heavy on the black & leopard...
oh man, it just feels perfect 
to slip on something a little dark + glam
and head out in the cold air.

Get ready, North America...
Autumn will be there before you know it!

Pack Your Bags: Lanzarote (Canary Islands)

A long, long time ago
(like the Autumn 2010)...

Tyler & I were two young bucks

freshly moved across the pond

to ye Olde England

and were making it our job

to see as many places as physically possible.

One weekend, 

I had a work break

coincide with a gap 

in his classes.

It was a Tuesday

and on Thursday

we would have 4 days off.

So I went online and found the cheapest

tickets to a place we had never been:

Lanzarote.

I had no idea where that was.

I had to google it.

It showed up on google as a tiny island

in the Canary Islands...

which sit off the side of Africa 

down below Spain & Portugal.

Done!

We booked our flights
(you can find some great cut-price tickets to Lanzarote),

found an affordable hotel
(we stayed at the Hotel Hesperia),

and, not knowing what to expect,

showed up to one of the most random

and yet fun trips we have ever taken.

After 2 days of lounging around the resort,

we decided to rent a car on our last day

and sat out on an adventure 

that we still talk about all the time.

It was magical day
cruising around the island
chasing the sun 
and just enjoying being alive and in love.

The odd terrain of the land,

the dramatic beaches, 

the vineyards growing up in lava fields,

the spontaneous camel rides that we came across

(and, duh, totally did)...

... all of it was so fun.

That's how we travel.

Taking our time to slow down,

but ready for adventure at any turn.

And, man,

it has filled up our live
 with some full hearts and magical moments.

*  *  *

I love these "polaroid" snaps I took while we were there-

I hope you will, too!

*  *  *

If travelling to Lanzarote sounds like a dream,
make sure to check out Monarch Airlines 
for great flight deals 
to amazing vacation destinations.

*all images original to Aspiring Kennedy
*this post was sponsored by Monarch Airlines.

The Prince Bonaparte Rules the World

At times, 

I can be slightly dramatic.

I've neem known to mae some fairly bold claims in my day.

I can't help it. 

I feel the moment. 

And last night,

I was really feeling it

when we were at 

the posh neighborhood pub,

The Prince Bonaparte

and trying their sticky toffee pudding.

Listen to me, friends:

I eat a lot of dessert... a lot.

After countless bowls of this national treat,

I can confidently say:

This sticky toffee pudding is the best I have had.

While Napolean never achieved his dreams 

of world dominance,

The Prince Bonaparte has dominated all others

in this special recipe.

In case you think Sticky Toffee Pudding is,

as the name implies, a pudding like we know in America,

well, you're wrong.

"Pudding" is a term that just means dessert.

For example,

the classic Christmas "figgy pudding" 

that we all blindly reference in carols & plays

 is not a gelatinous clumpy mess, but a cake.

I know, it's confusing...

but don't worry about it.

Back to the matter at hand:

The cake is just perfect,

the caramel pool it sits in is just right...

and the clotted cream ice cream on top

makes the whole experience heavenly.

If you're searching for a serving of this famous cake

on your trip the England,

don't go anywhere else

other than Notting Hill.

And don't even think about sharing-

you'll be starting a war

that even Napolean would have avoided.

* * *

The Prince Bonaparte

80 Chepstow Road

London W2 5BE

020 7313 9491

*image original to Aspiring Kennedy