20 April 2011

19 April 2011

Peace, love and bohemian chic.

In the spirit of Coachella and the kick off for spring festivals.

(Images via Studded Heart)

The Gallery.

Hermes blanket . Frye Dorado riding boots . Field Notes . Barbour Jacket . Aluminum horse figure . Horn accents .

(Images via this is glamorous)

Leather skirt.

Which way would you wear it? If I hadn't seen this layout my personal style would lean the 5th ensemble but my favorites are the 2nd and 3rd. What about you; which look would you choose?

18 April 2011

Blast from the past.

Uh. The ultra fabulous days of beautiful bunnies and flight attendants... I wish some things would never things would never change.

Oh la la.

Some fabulous finds...

Lace Top
Ceramic Vases
Tom Ford Lipstick
Statement Necklace
Pink place mat
Movie star shades
Laquer tray table
French bulldog bookends
Gwyneth Paltrow cookbook
PEONY Nest candle (available soon at MCD)
Patent skinny waist belts
Sleep mask

15 April 2011

Currently craving.

These Zara shoes are she-banging! They are running rampid in the blog world. I'm starting a petition for Zara of Tuscaloosa. Who's with me!!

Warm Toasted Marshmallow S'more Bars

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 cups milk chocolate chips (18 oz)
4 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1. Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir together cookie mix and crumbs. Stir in melted butter until soft dough forms. Press into ungreased 13x9-inch pan.
2. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until set. Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Let stand 3 to 5 minutes or until chocolate begins to melt. Spread chocolate evenly over crust.
3. Set oven control to broil. Sprinkle marshmallows over melted chocolate. Broil with top 4 to 5 inches from heat 20 to 30 seconds or until marshmallows are toasted. (Watch closely; marshmallows will brown quickly.) Cool 10 minutes. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Serve warm. Store any remaining bars tightly covered.

Find more recipes at www.bettycrocker.com.

*** Made these about 3 weeks ago - I was on a baker's spree. Random. They are beyond delicious. Like you make them one and you know you can't make them again because they are so good you will eat the whole thing delicious. Stomach ache good.

Derby Invitations.

In the process of planning a perfectly preppy derby party! Look at these great invitations I found on Paperless Post. PP is the best for online invites. Daisy and Tom Buchanan - straight out of The Great Gatsby. Yes please!

14 April 2011

Cheerwine.

Cheerwine is available EVERYWHERE! To all my readers from NC living away from home (like myself) you can now buy Cheerwine nationwide. I haven't seen it in my Tuscaloosa parts but you can order online at Kegworks. If your unfamiliar with this delectable drink, the equivalent; NC is to Cheerwine nationwide as AL is to Chic Fila if it opened on Sunday - except this is true.

Easter Petit Fours.

Ok please bear with me and these terrible blackberry photos (I NEED A CAMERA) but I had to share my latest petit fours! I still have to work on my decoration skills but that's more of a personal problem so I will share what I have so far...

Okay, let's start outside in and my personal favorite..the packaging! I found the candy boxes at Hobby Lobby in the candy/cake making isle. The grass and baby chicks (non edible) were in the Easter section and green ribbon in the fabric department. Hobby Lobby usually has EVERYTHING you want just not in the isle you expect it to be. I put the grass in the boxes, tied it up with my green plaid ribbon and stuck the foot of the chick in the bow at the end. I suggest using super glue. I added one of my favorite calling cards for a final touch. I think I'm going to invest in cards for holidays, birthday and thank you's as well. Just a thought.

Petit Four Cake

1 box of white cake mix & ingredients it calls for (oil, water, & egg whites) and I sometimes add almond extract, few odds and ends to make it my own and a 9x13 cake pan.

I make my cake the day of but you can also do it the night before. Prepare cake batter according to instructions on back of box. Cool cake in pan 15 minutes. Turn 9 x 13 cake onto wax paper to cool completely. The cake should be right side up (not flipped).

Cut off edges (1”) around the entire perimeter of cake using a tightly serrated knife and top of cake making it completely flat. For these petit fours we are using egg shaped cookie cutters but usually you would use your serrated knife to cut cake into squares. Using the oval cookie cutter cut out your cakes and place on the bakers rake as you complete. Flip the cakes upside down as you place them on the bakers rake so the bottom is now the top.

To prepare for icing place some sort of foil, parchment or wax paper underneath cakes to catch the runoff icing.

Royal Icing

Ingredients:

2 large (60 grams) egg whites

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 3 cups (330 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted

Directions:

Royal Icing is a pure white icing that dries to a smooth, hard, matte finish. In the bowl of your kitchen aid mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the egg whites with the lemon juice until combined and forms peaks (7 to 8 minutes). Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth. The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.

To decorate with royal icing add more powered sugar to the recipe and a small amount of food coloring. Put thicker icing in icing bags and decorate away. Make sure the initial coating of frosting has dried before adding a second layer.

Brush your shoulders off.

This fabulous find is available at Zara.

(Source via Romance and Revolution)

Christo Without Jeanne-Claude

I was so touched by Leavie Rose's most recent blog, Christo Without Jeanne-Claude, that I had to share. Sadly, I am a hopeless romance and stories like these are so bittersweet. It just reiterates, "Nothing is worth having without someone to share it with". If your not familiar with Leavie Rose - amazing talent and an inspirational blog. Win, win.

12 April 2011

Madly, Deeply, Red.

No.1. Smith Dress. Killer fall collection. (NC locations)
No.2. Love sign. DIY instructions (loving this as a happy birthday sign).
No.3. Mad Housewife Cab.
No.4. Lenny bathing suit.
No.5. Costume Nation platforms.
No.6. Essie nail polish in Canon Coral.

10 things that never go out of style.

Another magazine clipping from years ago. I agree with everything here except the Birkenstocks. I happen to love Birks but a wardrobe staple....maybe not.