Jamie's Italian

I was not expecting fine dining quality but I thought the food would have been at least something that is out of the ordinary. I was expecting the experience would have been different from just going to any high street restaurants considering that it is a little bit on the pricey side. If I remember it right, the last time we spent that much was in a fine dining French restaurant. That was a few years back though.

The children's menu is all in this Viewfinder. It brought back memories as I used to have one of these as a child. I think this is so original and distracts the kids from boredom while waiting for the food.

We had Crispy Squid  and Truffled Fries for starters.

The Crispy Squid was good but I could have had something as good as this in La Tasca, if not better.

There wasn't anything special with the Truffled Fries and there should have been as truffles are like gold when it comes to cooking.

please bear with the picture quality. it was dark and Sonny is just getting to grips with using his dslr.

My mains was Shrimp Linguine. Tasty enough but not much different from the lovely pasta I could have had in Ask Italian.

Sonny's Seafood Risotto was the real disappointment. It was watery and tastes fishy in the real sense of the word. There were bones everywhere.

I won't even start on our dessert which was Tiramisu. It tastes just like something taken out of Sainsbury's dessert section. If  you want good Tiramisu, you will find it at Adesso's Italian in Dunstable. Otherwise, go to this trattoria beside the Colloseum in Rome where the mister and I had the most amazing Tiramisu ever.

Maybe I was just expecting too much knowing that it is from a Michelin Star Chef or maybe the food was really not that great. 

I would probably go back if only for the service because when it came to the food, I could get it anywhere else. I would go to Carluccio's anytime.

Very child friendly though.

Jamie's Italian, Milton Keynes
3-5 Silbury Arcade
Milton Keynes
Bucks
MK9 3AG

Three

The little girl turned 3 last week. 

It started with a dream, then you came into our lives and that dream became a reality. 

Happy 3rd birthday to the most beautiful little girl in the whole wide world, Ava Lourdes. You are the best part of our day. You always bring us joy and we are proud of the wonderful little person you have become. May you continue to sing even if no one is listening and dance even if no one is watching. Sing Bruno Mars if you want to and do the ballet twirl as much as you can. Do whatever makes you happy and always keep that happy part in your heart, you will need it when you face the big world. 

Have a fantastic birthday, Babiboo. Thank you for giving us the best day of our lives. You are our dream come true

Christmas Wish

There are no Christmas Wish Lists, just one wish...

THIS.

abacaresort.com

Of Clutches and Small Bags

There was a time when big bags were the fad. The bigger the better . I liked it at the time  because it seemed practical especially if you are the type who likes to bring the kitchen sink with you. As a mommy, it was very handy especially when I can get away with not bringing a diaper bag during the time when my baby was not such a little baby anymore, when all I need to bring were a couple of diapers, a pack of wipes, change of clothes and probably, a sippy cup and some snacks.

Now that my little daughter is not a baby anymore, I thought of going back to small bags especially crossbody ones as I have to do a lot of bending and squatting down to her level when talking to her. I was so glad that small bags, crossbody bags along with clutches dominated the catwalks and the streets of Milan, New York and Paris during Fashion Week. So it's probably goodbye for big bags, for now.

I have been using my small bag with gold chain straps ala Chanel and I have noticed it has been proliferating all over the place. Good choice on my part though I really do not like wearing and carrying the same bag or dress as the person next to me. 

And clutches...

Clutches that doubles as handbags. You might want to take the straps out first.

I haven't bought myself a birthday treat. Now I know what to get.


All images courtesy of elle.com and the daily mail.

Birthday Wish List

I like making lists. Whether it's a shopping list or to do list.. I love the feeling once all the boxes next to each one on the list are checked. But with Birthday and Christmas Wish Lists, that seldom happens.

Now that my birthday is approaching, I have again created a wish list. The items on my wish list could be bought my myself or given as gifts from generous people I know like my husband (*wink*). I might buy one or two as I have a habit of giving myself Christmas and Birthday gifts. I mean, who else is going to spoil me but myself.

Presenting, My Birthday Wish List:

1. I love scented candles. Unlike most people, I don't buy them for display. I actually use them. Once they are all lighted, the house just smells heavenly. I used to buy them from Ikea but somehow, the quality has waned over the years. The last time I bought scented candles there, there was not much scent coming from it unlike before. They used to be really fragrant and at £1 each, they were really good value.Then I moved on to Glade and fell in love with the Spiced Apple scent. But the one that I have been keeping my eye on and nose (lol) is the Yankee brand. The jar packaging will look nice in any dinner table. They are just so expensive though. The most expensive scented candle that I bought was £10 but it was a massive one with 3 wicks on it. It probably lasted me a year or so and the scent was great. The large one of the Yankee candles costs £15 and it's not the largest in the real sense of the word. So if I get one for my birthday, I would be a happy bunny.

   2. I find it difficult to bend down to my little girl's level with a shoulder bag and I find that crossbody bags 

       are so much better. I love Mar Jacobs' range of crossbody bags. Not too big but not too small enough to 

      put in stage mommy essentials. A must for my wish list.

  3.  A new lipstick. MAC glaze lipstick in Hot Tahiti shade to be exact.

   4.  Another Mac but this time it is a coat not a lipstick. With the Autumn weather, it can be too cold just by 

        wearing a cardigan but then can be too hot by wearing a winter coat. I need something that is in 

        between so a mac coat is the answer.

The ultimate mac coat would be a Burberry worn here by the Duchess of Cambridge but then at £1,000 that would be too much to ask.

    5. Zumba, the complete DVD set. I have been trying to lose the last 4 lbs to go back to my pre-pregnancy       weight and it's so stubborn I think I really need exercise this time and Zumba would be the best because aside from the fact that I love the dance moves, it apparently makes you burn 400-500 calories an hour.

   

 6.  India Hicks fragrance from Crabtree and Evelyn called Spider Lily. This scent is divine and everytime I 

         pass by a Crabtree and Evelyn shop I have to stop by and smell it. I like wearing not very known 

         scents rather than designer perfumes. No one wants to smell like everybody else. So way before my 

         birthday, I already bought myself a bottle.

India Hicks by the way is 521st in line to the British Throne. Goddaughter of Prince Charles and one of  Princess Diana's bridesmaids.

image from the daily mail

This is her now. She used to be a model, now an enterpreneur and published author.

There, my Birthday Wish List and a little bit of trivia.

Bicester Village

It is considered as one of the tourist attractions in England and is visited annually by 3 million people worldwide according to Wikipedia. Bicester Village is located in Oxfordshire and is the leading designer outlet in England.

I have been to other designer outlets but I think Bicester Village is the cream of the crop. It houses high end brands like Gucci, Valentino, Jimmy Choo, Burberry and of late, Prada. I like the fact that it is not like any typical outlets which gives the usual mall vibe. The shops design reminds you of the Hamptons and gives you that old town feel. I love the color combination of the blue facade and brown awning. Just walking around here window shopping is enough to lift your spirits up. Plus, they have Starbucks in the village. What more could a shopaholic and coffee addict ask for?

The side entrance from the parking area.

The village even has a playground right next  to Ralph Lauren Kids. How well thought of. Mommy can browse in peace while daddy keeps an eye on the kids in the playground which what I actually did.

And then we had lunch at Carluccio's which serves the best seafood pasta in the land.

Bicester Village 
50 Pingle Drive
Bicester
Oxfordshire
OX26 6WD
England