Pumpkin pinning...

So...it's Halloween tomorrow!!

What does that mean??

...an excuse to dress in horrendous fancy dress...

...an excuse to force people to watch gory, horrifically scary films...

...an excuse to gobble down all those leftover {or even before they arrive} chocolate and sweets for trick-or-treaters...

{I confess to all of the above}

AND 

...pumpkins!!

I personally LOVE pumpkins, not only are they fun to chop up and carve successful {or rather unsuccessful} works of art, they are taste-teeeey! 

I've spent the last week or so, procrastinating, and doing it well. I've been on Pinterest pinning all the yummy looking recipes ready for when the day is over and I can finally cook with the pumpkins. {The one request to my mother upon seeing her next weekend, is to bring her pumpkins for me!}

There's so much variety, you won't get bored using up your pumpkin!

These are my favourite looking recipes from my mood-board starting with irresistible-looking chocolate pumpkin peanut butter cups. I am a BIG lover of Reese's Pieces so I think these little treats would go down a delight!

These pumpkin spice latte cupcakes are a great twist on traditional cupcakes and everyone who knows me, knows that I love baking cupcakes, so these will be on the to-bake list for sure!

Two savoury recipes that I can vouch for that are literally mouthwatering are the garlicky pumpkin risotto and Thai pumpkin soup. Both these recipes I have made over and over and over again and are DELICIOUS! The Thai pumpkin soup became a staple in our diet in Paris and we often took our own twist on the original recipe. It's such an inside warming delight when it's winter-y and cold outside. Oooooh I could do with a bowl right now!

Both the baked pumpkin doughnuts and the pumpkin spiced latte pancakes look interesting, and I'm intrigued to know how they would turn out...I'll let you know!

...and of course, you can't have post-Halloween baking without a traditional pumpkin pieeee!!

One thing - don't forget to keep the seeds! Most people tend to scoop out the seeds when carving. Tip: put them in a bowl for later, you can roast them with different seasoning's and then eat them! Pumpkin seeds are such a lost cause over Halloween, so try it - you might just like them!

Well that's it for me on Halloween, is it sad that the most exciting part about the American phenomenon is what comes after - the cooking!?

I'd love to hear if you have any exciting pumpkin based recipes!

E x

P.s Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest, to stay up to date with the rest of my pointless pumpkin pinning!

Click here to find my Pinterest page and to follow me!

Cosmo Blog Awards 2013

Oh dear. It's been a while hasn't it? It was two weeks ago today that I was nursing a pretty sore head from one, two, three... too many Cosmopolitan cocktails at the Cosmo Blog Awards! 

How time has flown eyh! It seems that going back to student life has somewhat left me with no life...quite the contrary to what one may think, an easy life with loads of spare time - I think not! 

Having so much work due in during the first week of term I spent Freshers week, yes Fresher's week! in the library...even Sunday!! So, I apologise for those of you who have been curious to know about the Cosmo Blog Awards, sorry it's taken me quite so long. 

Anyway here goes, a run down of the lead up to the event and the night: 

Firstly I would like to thank ALL of you who nominated me to be short-listed for the award, I didn't even know until over a week after the closing date as I thought nothing would come of it! Of more than 43,000 blog entrants you guys nominated and short-listed me, narrowing it down to 10 in my category and to be among one of 130 on the night over all the categories! 

It was then up to both my readers and the lovely ladies (and gents?) at the internationally famous Cosmopolitan magazine to vote and select a winner for each category which was announced on the night of Wednesday 2nd October 2013 at the amazing London South Bank venue: the OXO Tower.

What - A - Night!

I was so nervous at first. When I read the invite: 'no plus ones', there was a brief moment when my stomach sunk, where I worried that I would be chilling out in the corner toute seule. Why I was worried? I have no idea! I clippity-clopped in my new cobalt blue heels along the riverside to the venue, trying not to stumble on the way between nerves and cobbles until I reached the entrance where a small group of earlybird bloggers were waiting to be let in. That's where I met the lovely Jess, blogger of Mismatched Knitwear, fellow category short-lister, my new BBFF [Blogging BFF] and the chic chica with whom I enjoyed the nights antics! 

As the doors opened and the porters ushered us in, we hurried over to the cloakroom to deposit our jackets, but before we could even get there, a lovely server was with us, sparkling wine in one hand, canapés in the other. This didn't stop all night. I don't think there was a single moment where I didn't have a drink in my hand - alcoholic much? 

The Oxo Tower entrance, flowing cocktails and mini cupcakes courtesy of Two Little Cats Bakery

As Jess and I wandered around taking it all in, snapping snaps of the trendy, chic and uber-fashionable bloggers, pinching ourselves to check we weren't dreaming, we got stopped by the seriously sweet Sam from the Vintage Cosmetics Company, where she persuaded me to add length to my already long eyelashes, and I walked away fluttering my eyelids with a new pair of Kitty lashes.

Jess and I then tottered round to the bar, grabbed ourselves one of what was to become far too many cocktails and thought it was time to head for the photo booth for round #1. 

The Vintage Cosmetic Company eyelashes, yet another cosmo cocktail and the award announcements!

....dun dun duuuuun. It was time for the award ceremony! As we gathered round to watch the très chic  Editor in Chief, Louise Court and Co. announce the winners of each category Jess and I bumped into foodie fanatic Lottie, blogger of Lottie's Little Kitchen and we all waited in awe to hear those all important results. 

Jess, myself and Lottie, cocktail in hand of course!

...and the winner of the Best Newcomer award in association with Next iiiiiiiis...Laura Louise and her naughty disease - and a rightful winner is she! This girl deserves so much credit and a massive round of applause and we went and had a little chat and congratulated her for her award.

A mention of course to the girl whose blog I used to read before I started mine, an awesome girl who I didn't even realise was going to be at the awards and who I hugely embarrassed myself in front of as I spoke gobbledy goop tell her how much I loved her blog, Olivia of What Olivia Did. 

Laura Louise, winner of my category and Best Newcomer Award and myself and Olivia of What Olivia Did

After the announcements, it was time to mingle and network a bit, Jess and I bravely took a step in Louise Courts direction and managed to catch her eye for a brief chat - yes I got to speak to the editor in chief of one of the biggest international women's magazines! I handed over my business card, hand shaking with nerves and excitement and Louise kindly added it to her ever growing pocket card collection. 

Top: The gorgeous Editor in Chief of Cosmo magazine, Louise Court and myself (not looking so gorgeous!) What an honour!
Bottom: Gina, myself and Amy, Cosmo and Hearst girlies

Another cosmopolitan later and we get chatting to Gina and Amy, two beautiful and on-trend girls who work at Hearst and Cosmo. We chatted for ages, joking about what we write, what we do and how they got to where they are, and Gina tells me about her blog, The New Bridget - a MUST read - absolutely hilarious, I love it. The life of Gina as the New Bridget Jones...!

Having fun in the photo booth, courtesy of Photobooth Mania

After our 5th, 6th, 7th? cocktail we headed back to the photo boot for a few last snaps and then the night began to draw to an end. As it happened Gina lived a few minutes from where I was staying so we grabbed our jackets and goody bags [post to come] said our goodbyes to Amy and Jess and scurried to the station. After a funny train-closing-door-in-face-stuck-on-train-stuck-on-platform incident (in true Bridget Jones style by Gina) we finally made it home and said our goodbyes to each other. 

Again, what - a - night!

What I wore: Make up

What I wore: accessories

What I wore:

Necklace // Primark

Black top // Ted Baker

Leopard print jeans // Miss Selfridge

Cobalt blue heels // New Look

Bag // Marc Jacobs

Ring // Vintage from Paris

Bracelet black and white // Primark

Bracelet // Gift from Paris

Recalling it all today leaves me feeling so proud of myself and my blog, a site which I once set up to fill my friends and family in on my year abroad, how far it's come in such little time. I didn't win, no. But I wasn't expecting to. I wasn't even expecting to be short-listed. So thank you thank you thank you! I am so proud to have gone from one in 43,000 to one in 130. What an achievement and it's all thanks to you! Congratulations to all the winners of the night, and I really hope it doesn't stop there. 

Once again, thank you to everyone who has supported me!

Thank you & I love you all!

Until next time, grab a cosmo, and have a good weekend!

E x

Refreshers

Well that came around fast... it's here, already! Final year of uni is upon me and I have just about unpacked my 'light' suitcases into my new room for the last time at uni...a slight change from my Parisian apartment - waah! 

With a huge bedroom window, perfect for people watching, I have been snooping on all the new {and so young looking, feeling very only myself!!} freshers as they settle in, looking lost and excited to be free from home! This got me thinking about some of the uni essentials, not the obvious kitchen and bedroom gear, but comfy and practical campus fashion, and essentials for long days in lectures.

Here's my pick: 

ZARA Cable knit Sweater // A cosy sweater is never a question when the chill comes out, matched with jeans, leggings, skirts...I love this cable knit sweater from Zara and will soon be purchasing when the Student Loan comes in!

NEWLOOK Tan block colour satchel // Fashionable and practical for storing stationary and lecture gear for a day on campus, I'd go for this three-toned satchel as the colours will match near enough any outfit, plus it's great for days in town and even nights out, you could cheekily store those ballerinas for the walk home from the party!

JACK WILLS Burgundy sweatpants // Trackie bottoms are a wardrobe staple for any student and in one of this season's top colour trends, deep burgundy, you'll be right on trend! For lounging around the house, procrastinating in the library or turning up late to lectures {you may as well do so in campus style}. I've always been a fan of this preppy student look, comfort and style, what more could you want? 

ZIZ IZ TIME Whatever, I'm late anyway watch // I think this watch is just pretty cool and probably so true for most students...

PEACOCKS Navy rucksack // I have this rucksack already and it's so useful! Not only are rucksack really back in at the moment, it's ideal for transporting my laptop, books and notepads and is going to be great when lectures start! Who cares that it's from the men's section?!

CONVERSE All Star Ox Plimsolls // Again in burgundy {I'm loving this colour at the moment!} I'm saving up to get another pair of Converse {or if Christmas comes first I'll be asking Santa...}, I wear mine literally all the time, they're so comfy and practical! 

TOPSHOP Oversized zip-up hoody // Again like the trackie bottoms, hoodies are a wardrobe staple for any student wardrobe. So ideal for layering!

...and of course, a selection dedicated to CATH KIDSTON!

Notebook // Pencil case // Mug // Rose hand cream

I love the colours, the patterns and pretty much everything about Cath Kidston - who doesn't? This note pad is cute and ready for jotting down lecture notes, deadlines and foremost, for doodling during those two hour lectures! The pencil case is ideal for storing class essentials, a pen, a pencil a ruler and and rubber, so it's small to fit in any bag and less to carry! Who doesn't love a CK mug, a true British student after all will be relying on chain - tea/coffee/hot chocolate - drinking to keep them warm during those frosty months! And finally my favourite scent, rose...keep a moisturiser handy for when it's cold and you have dry hands and smell gorgeous too!

This is my guide to uni essentials and I am yet to purchase some! But at reasonably affordable prices you can't really go wrong!

What would be on your essential list?

Good luck to all my final year friends {and freshers I suppose ;)}

E x