firststreet denisse

One good thing about going to stay in the country with friends over the holidays is having a quaint little break from the hustle and bustle of the city. The other good thing is being able to use their well-stocked country kitchen to do some cooking. Since living in London with very meagre kitchen appliances I have really missed baking on the weekend. So I took this as the perfect opportunity to whip up a tart - pear and chocolate frangipane for Christmas day. Yum. What you'll need 300g shortcrust pastry 2 eggs 100g butter, melted 100g ground almonds 125g caster sugar 100g dark chocolate 2 tablespoons milk 300g pear slices in juice What to do Preheat your oven to 220 degrees Celsius and grease your tart tin well with butter. Ensure your pastry is at room temperature and line the tin. Pierce the base with a fork and blind bake for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, make your frangipane by combining the eggs, butter, sugar and ground almonds in a mixer until combined. In a separate bowl, combine ...

Can you believe it? It’s Christmas time again – I swear I was only frolicking on the beach in the south of France last week but that was in July; Five. Months. Ago. I must say I feel very privileged to have experienced my first winter Christmas season here in London this year. A cold climate at this time of year truly does make a magical transformation. I’ve never felt so much festive cheer thanks to a city that is brimming with lights, full of decorative trees and abounding with festive spirit. My only sadness is that there hasn’t been any snow – but I am hopeful that it will still come at some point! I want to say a big Merry Christmas to all you beautiful people – from whichever corner of the globe you find yourself reading. I hope that you have a magical day with those you hold nearest and dearest. I find myself writing to you from a location that is truly befitting of my first English Christmas – honestly I could be in a novel right now! I’m in a tiny country town that is home to ...

Italian and Spanish would have to be two of my favourite cuisines to eat, so when I discovered that there was a little restaurant named Polpo in London that was an amalgamation of both, I was smiling all the way to the table. Smack bang on Notting Hill’s high street you’ll find this eclectic little restaurant boasting a tapas menu with Italian cuisine rather than the typical Spanish – yum! Authentic wooden tables and retro red booths adorn the inside giving the venue a rustic modern feel. My friend was here in London visiting from Australia so we had plenty to catch up on whilst we sipped negroni’s and perused the menu. With a fire in our bellies (courtesy of the strong drinks) and minds longing to reminisce, we found ourselves rehashing days of old, falling back into the ease of Year 12 chats about boys, gossip and the like. Honestly you could have transplanted the restaurant to our Australian school ground and I wouldn’t have noticed! With so much chatting we worked up quite the appe...

It’s that time of year again, so in the spirit of the season I thought I’d put together a 2014 Gift List of all the things I’m coveting this year… and more importantly, wish I had the money to buy myself! As you can probably see, my frequent browsing trips to Harrods have significantly upped the price tag of all my wishful delights. Never matter, a girl can dream. Feast your eyes… Prada Wallet £373 - the perfect timeless leather wallet Celine Tote Bag £2,268 - you guessed it; the perfect timeless tote to match the wallet Alaia Tailored Crepe Wool Coat £2,750 - an achingly chic coat Marc Jacobs iPhone Case £30 - an iconic phone case that looks like something from outer-space Jimmy Choo Heels £575 - I choo-se these! Yes please! Bobbi Brown Brush Set £145 - for the perfect air-brushed make-up Now, to find that millionaire boyfriend....... Photos via retailers.

A funny thing happened in London this past week. Where there was once a sea of heads in the crowd, this has now been replaced by a sea of beanies, fedoras and baker boy caps. It's official, winter has arrived. How do I know? Because it has definitely become 'hat season'. For me despite my chapped cheeks and frozen fingers I'm rather thrilled because I've always loved a good hat - not to blow my own trumpet but I seem to have been blessed with a face shape that suits them - hooray! Time to hit the stores because here are my favourites... The Fedora Ah the go-to chic fedora that has overtaken every girl's wardrobe in the last year. This modern style does urban-cool with ease and has become the token accessory of bloggers, stylists and fashionistas everywhere. Why? Because it just looks so good! The Russian Fur Hat Add a little international flair to your collection with this iconic style. Definitely one for a European winter, I can just see myself strolling throug...

When I heard about the magic little medieval town of Bruges in Belgium I knew I simply had to visit. THEN when I heard it was host to one of the best Christmas markets in Europe I knew I simply had to visit ASAP! So with Christmas in the air and a cheerful spirit all around my friend and I headed off to Bruges on our adventure last weekend. If you hadn’t noticed already, we really do love Christmas and fondly refer to ourselves as little Christmas elves because we just adore the festive season. Sights Bruges, to me, is like something out of a picture book. The architecture is so distinctive with its iconic stepped shapes; there is history simply pouring out of every structure in this town. The cobblestoned paths and uneven walkways hint to times long before even my great-great-great-grandparents could remember and castle-like structures loom over the edges of the many canals to create a breath-taking sight. There are a great many things to enjoy in this place and if you do visit at Chr...

As much as I’m loving London’s winter festivities at the moment, my lips are really suffering from all the arctic air! So much so that I took myself off to the store last week and stocked up on a basket full of balms (I’m serious I went wayyyy overboard). With one in every handbag, at my bedside and on my desk, I am now an aficionado on those that actually work to give you a baby-skin-soft pout. Here’s my top picks… Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter  Good old Vaseline, you can always rely on them and now they've upped the ante and brought out a new delicious smelling lip tin. You can't go wrong with cocoa butter. Paul & Joe Lip Treatment Tell me anything is Parisian and I'll most likely love it, there's just something about that word! This balm is full of uber moisture perfect for those extra icy days. Burts Bees Tinted Lip Balm Since my mum first got me this a few years ago it has remained a favourite of mine: smells good, adds a sheen of colour and locks in moistu...

It may only be early December but I have enough Christmas spirit already for everyone - even those of you self-proclaimed grinchs. Last week, on November 26th to be exact, I gave a contented sigh as I realised I had finished all my Christmas shopping and wrapped all the presents. Told you I was keen beans! My Christmas cheer has only been increased this week with a delightful visit to Somerset House for ice-skating. We arrived in Christmas jumpers and all, ready to enjoy the occasion under the stars. This place just sparkled with all the Christmas festiveness you could hope for - there were cobblestoned pathways, a brightly lit rink and a giant Christmas tree that induced a reflex "oooh" as soon as you saw its twinkling lights. After an aromatic mulled wine it was time to take to the ice. Skates were donned with a retro playlist to get us in the mood; the mix was Ed Sheeran, ABBA and of course YMCA had to be thrown in. We carved up the rink with absolute elegance and skill in...