What Instant Goddess is dreaming of for Christmas…

The Instant Goddess household is feeling festive! The chocolate advent calendars have arrived (thank you Mummy dearest in the UK); I’ve also managed to purchase one of the few remaining Candy Coloured Countdown Advent Calendars by Benefit (thank you Through the Looking Glass for giving me the vital heads up before they sold out in HK!). I have to admit, I’m probably more excited about opening up my Benefit goodies than chowing down on the super deluxe Lindt chocs (sorry Mum!), but this certainly is shaping up to be a very fine and decadent Advent… oh and the Christmas Tree is on order (almost). 

So, what with the start of Advent and all things festive, this week Instant Goddess has been asking herself ‘Can a Christmas jumper be cool?’. You decide…

Top left: New Look Santa Jumper $379 from ASOS ; Top right: ASOS jumper with Snowflake patch on elbow $333 Bottom left: Jane Norman Santa Baby jumper $462) from House of Fraser and Bottom right: Warehouse sequin robin jumper  $510 from House of Fraser

And what will Mr Instant Goddess be wearing? I amused myself greatly with this one from ASOS due to arrive any day now… but shhhh, don’t tell him as it’s a SURPRISE!

ASOS Christmas jumper with Elf Design $425

Oh the razzle and dazzle!

And of course, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a razzle, dazzle party outfit on order. Instant Goddess is loving the emergence of the glam jumpsuit… think rich opulent fabrics with all that sparkles be it glitter or sequin.

From left to right: Eku playsuit $1,580 Virgos Lounge, Glitter leaf wrap jumpsuit $460 Topshop and available in store in Central, and French Connection cosmic sparkle jumpsuit $2,727 from ASOS

And if you’re not brave enough to deck yourself out in an all-in-one number, then it has to be a party dress. Instant Goddess is loving the ASOS BLACK range… think ASOS but far more upscale and they do love a bit of evening embellishment and we know how much the Instant Goddess loves a bit of embellishment! Can you guess which one made it into the Instant Goddess shopping trolley?!

Left: Jet bead embellished shift $2,727 by ASOS BLACK and right: Embellished armhole scuba skater dress $985 by ASOS

Left: ASOS BLACK glitter dress with gem detail $1,893 by ASOS and right: Disco fringe mini dress £58 $700 by Flying Wardrobe

Phase 8

If you like to try before you buy and you’re looking for a party dress option, then make a visit to Phase 8’s newly opened shop in ifc. Previously, Phase 8 was only available by mail order via the likes of House of Fraser for us Hong Kongers, so it’s great to see another high street name reclaiming some of the expensive shop space in ifc. BUT (and here comes the big BUT) once again, as with the majority of other big high street names that come and go in HK, Phase 8 have failed to keep the prices on par with the UK. But if you’re in a fashion fix and are willing to stump up or just simply want to try it on in-person, then you can now shop at the Phase 8 store. To give you an idea of the price hike, the dress below retails in-store at $2,750 but is available online for $2,050 from House of Fraser.Noleen Fringed Party Dress by Phase 8 $2,750 or buy online from House of Fraser for $2,050

Phase 8, shop 1098b, ifc mall, Central

Midweek Meal Inspiration

By popular demand, I give you Baked Camembert with Apples and Cranberries, served with Toasted Baguette Slices from Cake ‘n’ Knife. And I say “by popular demand”, as I threw a girls only dinner party on Friday night and everyone asked that I include this this recipe here! As one of them put it,“This really is Christmas on a plate…!” Special thanks to the Sis-in-Law in the UK who first introduced me to this crowd-pleaser when we were back there last month.

Ingredients:

• 1 apple
• 15g/ ½ oz butter or margarine
• 25g/1 oz walnut halves
• 25g/1 oz dried cranberries
• 1 tbsp light soft brown sugar
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• 1 round (250g) Camembert cheese (I used President available in Wellcome)
• 1 French stick
• 2-3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove garlic

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180*C/350*F/Gas 4. Core and wedge apple then coarsely chop apple wedges and walnuts.
2. Melt butter in small saucepan add apple, walnuts, cranberries, soft brown sugar and cinnamon; mix gently. Remove from heat.
3. Cut Camembert in half horizontally. Place one half of Camembert (rind side down) either place in wooden box that Camembert came in (but make sure any paper or cardboard has been removed!) or place in small shallow ovenproof dish (mini flan dish as shown or pie dish will do). Spoon half of apple mixture onto bottom half of Camembert, spreading evenly. Top with remaining half of Camembert, rind side up. Then spoon remaining apple mixture over the top. Place dish or box on baking sheet.
4. Slice French Stick into 1cm slices. Arrange slices, slightly overlapping, around Camembert on baking sheet. Put oil in a bowl and crush garlic into it. Brush bread slices lightly with olive oil.
5. Bake 10-12 minutes (I actually think it could take 15 mins and will cook it for longer next time to get more goo!), or until baguette slices are crisp and golden on top and Camembert begins to soften. Stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Yogi tea saying of the week: “Always be pure, simple and honest.”

Instant Goddess saying of the week: “Razzle, dazzle and go!”

Until next week Goddesses and remember you are ALWAYS, ALWAYS worth it!