food

Our Trip Across the Pond | 2015

We got back from our european vacation about two weeks ago and we are already getting the itch to travel again! I’ve written a few posts on the trip so far, but I wanted to share all the miscellaneous, random fun we had while traveling around Europe. Check out our adventures in each of our stops along the way below!

European Vacation | Paris:

Our first stop on our European Vacation was Paris. We had a fabulous time! Along with eating macarons and pastries at every adorable cafe we passed, we also climbed the steps of the Eiffel Tower, explored the grounds of the Palace of Versailles and saw the Mona Lisa at the Musee de Louvre. To see more of our time in Paris, click through the pictures below and check out my posts at the Palace of Versailles and the Musee de Louvre!

Reflections of The Louvre
Delicious macaron cocktail from laduree
Admiring the gargoyles on the Notre Dame Cathedral
Early morning stroll to get pastries
The fabulous grounds of the Palace of Versaillles
The Eiffel Tower at Night
View of the sunset from the top of the Eiffel Tower
Couldn’t get enough of the French Pastries | Laduree
Some delicious macarons from laduree
Waiting in line bright and early at the Louvre
The enchanting Notre Dame Cathedral
Arc de Triomphe
The view while climbing the stairs of the Eiffel Tower
Selfie at the Palace of Versailles
The Gardens of The Palace of Versailles
The golden gates of The Palace of Versailles
View from the top of the Eiffel Tower
Carousel Rides in front of the Eiffel Tower
Beautiful blooms in from of the Eiffel Tower
Paris in Full Bloom
The view of the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero Square
Crossing over one of the bridges into the ile de la cite

European Vacation | London:

One thing we knew how to do in London was eat! We went to some great restaurants and some amazing markets! You can see from my pictures below, I was mostly interested in the sweets (especially the donuts!) We also made the journey to Windsor to check out the beautiful Castle, where the Queen hangs her crown on the weekends. But my favorite part of all was the London Eye. It had the most amazing views of the skyline, Big Ben and all the beautiful bridges! And don’t forget to check out the adorable neighborhood we stayed in on my Notting Hill post!

Westminster Abbey
Donuts seem to be their specialty in London!
The Queen is In! Checking out Windsor Castle
The grounds of the Windsor Castle
One of our favorites in London, The London Eye
Jeff and I in front of my favorite bridges to date, the Tower Bridge of London
The Queen is In! The beautiful Windsor Castle from afar
Tempting pastries from the market
A quick stroll enjoying nature in Hyde Park
The Tower Bridge of London
One of the queen’s guards
Vanilla, Hazelnut and Blackberry Rose filled Donuts!- Blackberry was my favorite!
The Tower London Bridge
Hanging out in front of The Parliament
As close as they would let us get to the Queen’s quarters
The London Skyline
Gelato as big as my head!
Some irresistable treats from the market
One of the many colorful bridges in London
The Towers of the Windsor Castle
The prettiest (and tastiest) fudge in England
Big Ben in all it’s glory
Bright Blooms in Hyde Park
Getting on the London Eye

European Vacation | Scotland:

We ended our trip in the beautiful country of Scotland. We had quite the adventure driving on the left side of the road through mountains. We spent our days exploring the countryside, hanging out in the dreary, but amazing, town of Edinburgh and taking in the sights. Our Scotland adventure was much different than our usual city excursions, but it was a nice break from the hustle and bustle. Check out my pictures from the last leg of our trip below, hope you enjoy them!

Our scenic drive through Scotland
Castle Stalker from afar
One of our pit stops on our journey through Scotland
Steps to the Top of Arthur’s Seat
View of the Edinburgh Castle from Arthur’s Seat
Feeling exremeley outdoorsy
Edinburgh Castle from Arthur’s Seat
Gothic Churches in Scotland
Edinburgh at night
Gothic Churches in Scotland
The medieval town of Edinburgh
The medieval town of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle from below
Edinburgh Castle from below
The windy hike up Arthur’s Seat
On the top of Arthur’s Seat
Hiking down to a pebbled beach
The quaint city of Oban
Another adorable cafe in Scotland
Delicious treats in Scotland

Stacked Cannolis

My husband and I have tons of fun experimenting in the kitchen together and this past weekend was no exception! We decided to take on the feat of making cannolis for the first time. As we finished up our dinner, we started reviewing the cannoli recipe and quickly realized we were unprepared. Who knew you needed a cannoli mold to make that tube shape? I quickly researched alternative ways to make the cannoli shape without a mold. I read a few recipes that said you could cut off the end of a broom handle or make a mold out of aluminum foil. Besides the fact that I use a dustbuster instead of a broom, I wasn’t loving the alternative options. It all sounded a little messy to me, so I decided to get a little creative and try stacked cannolis!

Stacked Cannolis

They actually turned out great and were super easy to make! We used Alex Guarnaschelli’s Homemade Cannoli Recipe from Food Network (which is delicious by the way) and tweaked the preparation to make them stacked instead of the traditional cannoli shape. Once you cut the dough into circles, you put them right into the hot oil and fry them into flat discs. We put a spoonful of the filling between each layer and topped the tower with the last of the filling and a few raspberries. Didn’t they turn out adorable? Bonus- they taste delicious too!

deconstructed cannoli

Craving a delicious italian pastry? Instead of making a batch of cannolis, consider trying this posh spin on the traditional dessert.

The Perfect Picnic

There’s nothing better than spending the day lounging in the sunshine. Our apartment is blocks from a few different parks and not too far from the beach either. We try to take advantage of the awesome year round weather and views as much as possible! And what better way than a picnic?

glamourita picnic must haves

BBB Picnic BasketWhen registering for our wedding, I found this amazing picnic basket at Bed, Bath and Beyond for only $39.99! This basket has come in handy over the past few months. It is well made, versatile and a steal at $40 (only $32 if you have a 20% off coupon!). The bottom half doubles as a zip-insulated cooler, perfect for drinks, cheese, fruit, etc. And it comes with 4 plastic place settings strapped in, including plates, mugs, forks, spoons and knives. All you have to do is add the food, drinks and blanket and you have a picnic!

 When I ordered this basket online I expected it to be small, but the size surprised me! The zippered cooler section is big enough to hold wine bottles plus food and ice! It’s the perfect way to make packing for picnics a cinch. Still need help deciding what to pack into it? See my picnic must haves below!

 Picnic Essentials:

  • Picnic basket (including place settings)
  • Blanket
  • Drinks- wine and sangria recommended!
  • Snacks- cheese, crackers, veggies and fruit are great options
  • Napkins
  • Wine/Bottle Openers?
  • A good book
  • Sunglasses
  • Amazing views!

glamourita picnic basket