With a little help from Valentine Warner

I was browsing the cookbook section on amazon.de when I spotted two Valentine Warner cookbooks. I don't know how much they are in the UK but the German versions cost me 4,99 Euros each and that is a real bargain for a hardcover book no matter whether a cookbook or a novel.
I really like Valentine Warner's concept of using fresh seasonal ingredients to maximise the taste and perhaps I even more appreciate that his recipes are easy and quick to make. Don't get me wrong, cooking is great but I just don't have the patience to spend my whole day in the kitchen.

So here they are.

Yes, the last picture shows vegetable chips. :) I love them and this is another product I can't buy here in Germany - ok, let me specify this, I can't buy them at a reasonable price. So hopefully this cookbook will teach me how to make them myself!
During my last visit to the UK I bought every variety Tyrell's make. I really like the packaging. It's quite retro.

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I know a lot of people loathe beetroot but I really like it - especially fried! :)

See you soon and have a nice evening! 

Douglas Box of Beauty September 2011

Please don't ge me wrong but at the moment I see no use in explaining how the Douglas Box of Beauty works since they reached their subscription limit and currently you're not able to sign up for their service. You'll be able to subscribe again when somebody cancels their subscription.

So I thought I would give you just a quick rundown of the products in my September box.

* Manoa Cristal Quicky! Polishing File - really nice product that I already know since it was part of my Glossy Box of August. Now I have it twice and I'm going to use my second one for Christmas stockings.
* Weleda Sallow Thorn Hand Cream - I've been using this hand cream for years and I mostly use it in autumn and winter.
*Venus Perfect Hand Care Natural Glycerin Soap - Oh My God! This smells so good, fresh and clean and kind of powdery. I can't wait to start using it!
*Lip Smacker Strawberry Banana -a fun product. Reminds me of my childhood.
* Anna Sui Forbidden Affair perfume -isn't this miniature flacon absolutely pretty? I love Anna Sui's fragrances and this is going to look so nice on my dressing table.

and my favourite product
* True Religion Hippie Chic perfume - I'm really surprised by this fragrance. I googled it and douglas.de describes the scent as fruity with traces of raspberry, pomegranate and Fuji apple. Later it is supposed to develop into a more flowery scent with jasmine, hibiscus and lilies of the valley and undertones of light wood and musk. As I'm not very into fruity fragrances I was pleased to recognize that on my skin it's actually more flowery and musky from the beginning, so that's a score for me! I consider buying the huge bottle since I have worn it now for the last five days straight amd still love it. Besides did you see the cute, fat, cosy Buddah on the top? <3

See you all soon!

Autumn is finally here!

And here I am writing my first blog entry ever. I've thought about starting to blog for a while now and since I couldn't come up with another reason not to, well, welcome to january cupcake chats! :) I am not quite sure where I am heading with my blog but you're invited to join me on my way, if you like.

Autumn is right after Christmas my favourite season of the year, yes I mean season. I love when the leaves turn orange and begin to fall and I love pumpkins. I could feed off pumpkin soup a whole month but that would be kind of weird, wouldn't it? Every year I wait for Starbucks in Germany to sell Pumpkin Spice Latte but so far they don't. I'll include some photos I took at a pumpkin festival last year. Unfortunately I won't be able to go this year which is pretty sad.

Hope to chat to you - or myself! :) - soon!