One day in Paris

Have you ever done a one day trip in an European city? I did, few days ago, in the beautiful Paris. We landed at Beauvais airport at 7.45 am and flew back at 10.30 pm, I can assure you can do it! 

After having enjoyed the Tour view from Trocadéro, we had breakfast at the storic Angelina cafè on Rue Rivoli and then had a stroll under the rain in Rue Saint Honorè and Place Vendôme. After lunch we walked along the street of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and them moved to the Jardin des Tuileries: in that moment the pouring rain stopped and the sun came out of the clouds giving us an unbelievable lilac-blue sky.

Defenitely can't wait to come back to Paris again!

Rustic Style Inspiration

During my web browsing, I found some interesting images of rustic style interiors. 

Aren't they inspiring? Do you like rustic style?

Currently Obsessed With...

Several times I find myself searching for a certain pair of earrings, a ring or a bracelet among all my jewelry, waisting a lot of time and leaving all messy. Sometimes I find things I did not even remember to have. Isn't this strange?! 

This is why recently I started browsing jewelry boxes... And here are some of my favourite items.   

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Birthday Brunch

As already mentioned here, last saturday I hosted a brunch for my 30th birthday. I welcomed my closest friends at my place and shared the best meal of the day. What can I say? It was really fun and everyone enjoyed the moment, I am very happy we celebrated in this way.

Planning a brunch with friends is easy, fun and provides a great opportunity to slow down and enjoy the moment with the people you love. Here are some tips I would like to share about a brunch planning:

1. Choose date and time
2. Invite friends or family members with a phone call
3. Make a list of the dishes and beverages you will offer and start shop all the things you need
4. Clean your house in advance
5. Think about decorations and choose a color theme
6. Prepare as much as possible ahead of time, so you can prepare yourself without hurry in the morning
7. Set the table and decorate your home
8. Welcome your guests with enthusiasm
9. Serve your guests, then yourself
10. Sit down, relax and enjoy!

Halloween Pumpkin Muffins

I am a huge fan of every dish that includes pumpkin (pumpkin risotto is one of these), especially in this period, at the beginning of fall and of all the comfortable traditions that this season brings. This time I used pumpkin to prepare an easy sweet treat that really surprised me with its flavour! 

If you want to taste them during Halloween celebration and give them a funny look, you just have to add some little DIY ghost on the top of them using some toothpicks, the little ones will surely enjoy!

Recipe here

Sono una grande fan di ogni piatto fatto con la zucca (il risotto con la zucca è uno di questi), specialmente in questo periodo, all'inizio dell'autunno e di tutte le tradizioni che la stagione porta. Questa volta ho usato la zucca per preparare un dolcetto facile che mi ha veramente sorpresa con il suo sapore! 

Se volete assaggiare questi muffin durante la festa di Halloween e dare loro un'aspetto divertente, non dovete far altro che aggiungere dei piccoli fantasmini in carta applicati su uno stuzzicadente, i più piccoli apprezzeranno sicuramente!

 Ricetta qui

Birthday Wishlist

Book / Candle / Shades / Coat / Bikers / Bag 

Birthday Brunch Planning!

This year I want to celebrate my birthday with my closest friends in a different way, so lately I started planning a rich breakfast/brunch at my place. I want to share with my girls a moment of relax, pure indulgence and fun! 

Here you will find images that are really helping me with planning the event!

What do you think? Have you ever celebrated at the time of breakfast or brunch?

Let me know!

Image via

Saturday in Milan

{Chic pastels at MAX&Co.}

We spent our saturday in the beautiful Milan, browsing shops and walking along the crowded city streets. After buying a new pair of boots, we pampered ourselves with a healthy snack.

{A warm bicolor coat by Jil Sander to welcome fall season}

{Baroque dress by Dolce & Gabbana}

{A funny small town reproduction inside Moschino store}

{A gorgeous display at Antonia store}

{A grapefruit juice and an oatmeal + dry cherries yoghurt at Juice Bar}

Wish you a good week beginning!

Five Things

Finally bought this book at Anthropologie during our last travel to NYC, I love it!

I really love fall sundays like today, the weather is mild and you still have the chance to enjoy the sunlight outside before the boring rainy season starts... Time to relax, think about new ideas and enjoy friends company. 

Brand new leather booties from Zara

An ancient map of United States hanging on my wall

A sparkling necklace from Zara

Pout pourri in my living room

Turning 30

Image via my board

Yes, in two weeks I will be turning 30 years old. How do I feel about it? I feel pretty good, happy. Many things happened and changed in my life, but  now I feel like I am accomplishing all the things I ever wanted: have a great boyfriend, live in our own personally styled apartment, doing an interesting job. I feel much happier and confident in my thirties than I did in my twenties, so I imagine it can only get better from here and that life can offer me other gorgeous things!

If you are interested in discovering what you should have and should know at the time of 30, do not miss this complete list published by Glamour magazine... I really agree with everything, but mostly with points 12 of should have and 9 of should know :)

At this point, I need to get my "sweet thirty" party planned... Any suggestion?

How do you feel in your thirties? How did you celebrate this moment? I am curious to know!

Travel updates...

I can't believe that exactly 3 month passed since I wrote my last post here. As mentioned before I changed job and consequently my daily rythms changed as well. However I am happy to write again and hope to be able to share more from now on.

So... let's start with exciting news!
In 11 days I will be flying to NYC and staying there for one week, can't wait! I visited the city during last summer, suddently fell in love and, once back home, I felt that I needed to go there again. I would also live there, If I could.
Last year we enjoyed the city mostly through a "hungry" tourist approach, this time I would like to live it in a more relaxed way. Some of my goals for this holiday are to shoot beautiful and unusual pictures, visit the Metropolitan Museum, walk along the High Line and get the best pancakes and mac'n'cheese.

If a New Yorker is reading, please note that every advice is well accepted!

Snapshots

Find me on Instagram! @silkandchocolate

Paris vs. New York

The Ville Lumière or the Big Apple? Both. 

Vahram Muratyan is an art director/graphic designer that has the privilege to live his life in Paris and New York. Thanks to his experience and his travels, he firstly started a blog and then created a book that illustrates similarities and differences between the two cities. 

Don't you think his illustrations are amazing?! You can find all his prints here!