Miss Jillian Designs

Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

2011-11-23T17:04:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so you’ll need something appropriate to eat for breakfast right?

Try this Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal. It’s delicious…and easy to make too!

Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Ingredients:

1 (15 oz.) can Pumpkin Puree
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
2 large Eggs
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice*
1/2 teaspoon Salt
3/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 cups Milk
2 1/2 cups Dry Old-Fashioned Oats

*1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice:

1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/8 teaspoon Ground Allspice or Cloves
1/8 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

PREHEAT to 350 degrees. WHISK pumpkin puree, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking powder. WHISK in milk.

MIX in dry oats. COAT 8 x 8 dish with non-stick spray. POUR in mixture. COVER with foil and BAKE 45 minutes. REMOVE foil after 35 minutes.

Enjoy!

It’s an easy breakfast treat for a cool fall day. As an added bonus, the recipe makes about 9 servings, so you’ll have enough for your whole family (or for leftovers!).

Credit: Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal recipe adapted from Budget Bytes. Photos taken by me.

Great Products that Help Great Causes

2011-11-22T05:57:00.000-08:00

This holiday season, why not buy your loved ones gifts that also give back? There are so many great products out there that not only make great gifts, but also support great causes.

31 Bits (www.31bits.com)

What do they do? 31 Bits Designs is a socially minded business designed to give internally displaced women in Northern Uganda an opportunity to counter poverty. By giving these beneficiaries access to the international market, they are able to earn an instant income, providing homes, food, and education for their families. The 31 Bits program equips women by providing literacy education, financial and vocational training, holistic care, and strong support systems, empowering individuals to further their careers and attain social equity.

What to buy? Necklaces, bracelets, cuffs, wedding jewelry and gift cards.

Not For Sale Campaign (www.notforsalecampaign.org)

What do they do? The major obstacle that we face in the fight against modern-day slavery is that the crime is hidden. Individuals that work in the field know that slavery is not part of the current collective consciousness. Initially, it shocks the general public to learn that slavery still exists and is widespread. It is even more shocking for them to realize that it may exist in their own backyards. A holistic, all-encompassing response is in order. Igniting and aiding this comprehensive response is the Not For Sale Campaign’s purpose. The Not For Sale Campaign bridges knowledge to action. With your help, we are working to raise awareness and collective understanding about human trafficking.

What to buy? Clothing, accessories, gift cards, scarves and journals.

Krochet Kids intl. (www.krochetkids.org)

What do they do? With hook and yarn people can make amazing products. Being paid a fair wage to do so allows for them, for the first time, to provide for their families and begin planning for the future. By teaching these people to crochet, Krochet Kids intl. empowers them to rise above poverty. Today, over 100 people go to the Krochet Kids intl. compound in Northern Uganda everyday to work and to rewrite their stories for the better. The products created abroad from the cooperation of our staff in America and artists in Northern Uganda has created a sustainable cycle of employment and empowerment.

What to buy? Stickers, headwear, clothing and accessories.

Back to the Roots (www.backtotheroots.com)

What do they do? Founded in 2009 as a 100% sustainable urban mushroom farm, BTTR Ventures (aka Back to the Roots) has transformed into a unique company focused on bringing sustainable grow-at-home products into households across the country. Their vision is to serve as a standard bearer of innovation and responsibility in our community in order to inspire others to work towards a more sustainable future. Inspired by the idea of producing local, fresh food from what was an urban waste stream (recycled coffee grounds), Back to the Roots has since grown to create the Grow-Your-Own Mushroom Garden which lets anyone, across the country, grow their own gourmet mushrooms at home as well.

What to buy? Grow at home mushroom kits, premium soil amendments, replacement bags, t-shirts and monthly mushroom club memberships.

Warby Parker (www.warbyparker.com)

What do they do? Everyone has the right to see. Unfortunately, millions of people around the world today don’t have access to proper vision care. To help address this problem, Warby Parker partners with renowned non-profits, such as VisionSpring.org, to deliver one pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair that we sell. In doing so, they enable you to share the gift of vision with someone who can’t see today and give them the opportunity to read, to work and to live a fuller life.

What to buy? Optical frames, sunglasses and monocles.

TOMS (www.toms.com)

What do they do? With every pair purchased, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for one. The One for One movement is about people making everyday choices that improve the lives of children. TOMS has given over 1,000,000 pairs of new shoes to children in need around the world.

What to buy? Shoes, apparel, accessories, eyewear and gift cards.

Hand in Hand Soap (www.handinhandsoap.com)

What do they do? For every bar purchased, Hand in Hand will donate a bar to save a child's life. Buy a bar, give a bar. Hand in Hand soap is 100% vegetable based, vegan, organic, gluten-free, biodegradable, palm-free, paraben-free, petrochemical-free, cruelty-free, sustainable and Fair Trade USA certified.

What to buy? Soap – by the 2 pack, 5 pack or 10 pack.

Credit: 31 Bits, Not For Sale Campaign, Krochet Kids intl., Back to the Roots, Warby Parker, TOMS and Hand in Hand Soap.

Helpful Household Hints – Floss for Fixing Pet Toys

2011-11-21T13:26:00.000-08:00

Everyone has their own household tips and tricks that they’ve picked up over the years. Well, I have a few tricks up my sleeve too and I’m continuing my little series of Helpful Household Hints to share them with you.

Helpful Household Hint #3: Floss for Fixing Pet Toys

Even with a pup as calm as mine, pet toys only last so long. Carrying your beloved toys around in your sharp little teeth and the occasional games of tug, eventually will cause a bit of wear and tear.

Instead of going out and buying a whole new batch of toys, try salvaging what you have. I’m sure your pup will be thankful to have his/her favorite toy around as long as possible.

First, sift through that toy bucket and determine what is salvageable and what is not. Some toys may just have too many holes.

To fix that beloved stuffed animal you will need to know how to do a basic hidden stitch (here’s a YouTube video I found if you need some extra sewing help). Next, you will need some sewing utensils: a needle with a fairly big hole on the end and floss.

Now you might be wondering, “floss?!?!” The reason I use floss is the reason for today’s helpful hint. Floss lasts a lot longer when it comes to fixing stuffed animals. Personally, I’d rather mend my dog’s toys less often, wouldn’t you?

To get started, I cut off a long length of floss (probably about double the length of my arm) and thread it through the needle. Pull it through only to the halfway point of the floss. Then take both ends of the floss, hold them evenly and tie them in a thick knot. Now not only do you have the thickness of floss, but you have DOUBLE the thickness of floss.

Find one end of the hole you want to fix and thread the needle up towards you through the inside of the stuffed animal. Your knot should hold on the inside and be hidden. Continue the stitch throughout the length of the hole. I usually go back up the length of the stitched hole again for added reinforcement.

Wha-lah! Fixing your pet’s toys is as easy as that.

Feel free to send me any questions that you might have about this helpful hint. As I was writing, I was starting to feel like a video almost would be necessary to fully explain the process. But if you are an expert sewer, just the idea of using floss should be enough for you.

Credit: Photo taken and edited by me. Video via expertvillage on YouTube.

Bacon Pumpkin Pie Truffles

2011-11-21T10:47:00.001-08:00

Anyone planning on going non-traditional this Thanksgiving?

These truffles are the perfect way to ease away from the traditional and surprise your guests.

I found this recipe for Bacon Pumpkin Pie Truffles on FOODBEAST that basically takes a good old regular pumpkin pie, with addition of brown sugar-baked bacon thrown in the batter, and deconstructs it. The idea is simply amazing and I wish I thought of it.

For the full recipe, please visit FOODBEAST. If you make them, please comment and let me know how they turn out.

What other recipes are on your Thanksgiving menu this year?

Credit: Photo and recipe by FOODBEAST.

In an Autumn Kind of Mood

2011-10-12T15:18:00.001-07:00

Bad blogger. Bad bad blogger.

Sorry, had to shame myself a little for not posting for so long. Helping my love with various projects and entertaining an out-of-town houseguest has kept me busy…but I’m back now and on to the blogging.

Technically it is fall now (don’t tell Mother Nature because I love 90 degree weather in October), so I’m starting to think about cozy things like rustic recipes using pumpkins, warm fall colors, toasty blankets and tights!

Tights seem to be all the rage right now. Do you love them or hate them? I’m torn.

Credit: (1) Thigh-Highs in Heather Graphite from J.Crew, (2) Solid Opaque Tights in Decadent Red from J.Crew, (3) Ruffle Legging in Wine from free people, (4) Poconos Sweater Legging in Natural Combo from free people, (5) Launch Plaid Tights from ModCloth, (6) Leg Warmers by High Fibre Design from knitonthenet, (7) Thigh-Highs from theberry.com, (8) Bondage Tights from Wolford, (9) Leg Warmers in Gray Melange from H&M, (10) Big Dot Tights 03 from Happy Socks, (11) Movement Legwarmer in Heathered Coal from Lululemon Athletica, (12) Big-Stripe Leggings in Warm Redwood from J.Crew, (13) Hansel From Basel Nylon Kneepad Tights from asos, (14) Mini Cable Knit Tights in Toasted Almond from Gap, (15) Ribbed Tights in Decadent Red from J.Crew

Helpful Household Hints

2011-09-15T17:02:00.001-07:00

Helpful Household Hint #2: Keeping Brown Sugar Soft and Fresh

Has this ever happened to you? You find a great cookie recipe. You pull out all of the ingredients from your pantry. When you get to the brown sugar, you find that it has hardened into an unusable rock.

Hey, it’s happened to me. Brown sugar is finicky.

Instead of going out to buy more sugar or trying to save what you have at the last minute, here’s how you can prevent it from happening in the first place.

It’s simple. Your brown sugar needs moisture. You need to store it properly.

You’ll need four things:

A container big enough to fit your bag of brown sugar (I use a 12 oz. container that once housed frozen cool whip).
A small “cup” (I use a plastic measuring scoop with the handle cut off & my mom uses an old school medicine bottle with no cap).
A cotton ball.
Water.

That’s it. Nothing fancy.

Simply pour your brown sugar into the container. Place your cotton ball into the small “cup” and moisten it with a little water. Make a small indent so that small “cup” can fit in the sugar with the lid still being able to close. Seal your container tightly. Re-moisten your cotton ball ever so often.

Wha-la! No more crunchy brown sugar!

What tricks do you use around your household to make life a little easier or to fix the boo boos once they happen? Please share!

Credit: Photo taken by me.

Balsamic Pear Salad

2011-09-14T13:36:00.001-07:00

I made a salad yesterday that actually turned out to be pretty delicious. In my hurry, I neglected to take any pictures (will you please forgive me?).

Pictures or not, the recipe was too good not to share.

Balsamic Pear Salad

Ingredients:

5 oz. bag of Mixed Greens
1 Pear
1/4 of a small Red Onion
1/4 cup Walnuts
1/4 cup Cashews
Ground Black Pepper
3 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil

Directions:

POUR bag of Mixed Greens into a large bowl.
DICE the pear into small cubes. ADD to the bowl.
THINLY SLICE the Red Onion. ADD to the bowl.
CHOP nuts and ADD to the bowl.
GRIND fresh Pepper over the Mixed Greens.
POUR the Balsamic Vinegar over the Mixed Greens.
DRIZZLE the Olive Oil over the Mixed Greens to taste.
MIX and SERVE.

Here’s a photo from the website I found the original recipe and what her salad looked like…

Notes:

If you don’t have a pear, Mandarin orange slices or strawberry would also be tasty options. Further possible additions to the salad could be crumbled/shredded cheese or even avocado slices.

Enjoy!

Credit: Recipe adapted from Tried-and-True Cooking with Heidi. Photo from Tried-and-True Cooking with Heidi as well.

inspired by | willy wonka and the chocolate factory

2011-09-02T17:01:00.001-07:00

Is it possible to create wearable style from a movie like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? I think so.

I was inspired to put together a handful of looks with hints of Willy Wonka to them. It was fun to reminisce about my favorite scenes from this classic movie and draw from the costumes and scenery.

If you had to style a look based on a classic movie, which movie would you choose and how would you put together your look?

inspired by | oompa loompas

{Girl With a Notebook & Prestigious Homes Realty}

{The Beauty Stop, ASOS Tailored Pleat Lapel Crepe Dress, Apple Green Bow Felt Head band & Prada Striped Canvas Lace-Up}

inspired by | violet beauregarde

{NY Daily News & NY Daily News}

{French Connection Sequin Mini Dress, ASOS Portfolio Envelope Clutch, Laura's Style & Bremseth}

inspired by | charlie bucket

{kiddie matinee & IGN movies}

{ASOS Leather And Sequin Longline Tank, ASOS 7/8 Tailored Slim Leg Pants, LILA-Silver Foil Hollow Glass Bead Gunmetal Necklace & L.A.M.B. Tawny Sequin Pump}

inspired by | willy wonka

{A Secret Forest & Collider}

{Paul & Joe Purple Haridel Velvet Tuxedo Jacket, Floral Garden Cami, we <3 it & Candy Shoes}

Not enough for you? Check out this great kid’s room and birthday party both inspired by Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!

Sparkle and Fade

2011-09-01T17:58:00.001-07:00

I am really into glitter, sequins, and just overall SPARKLE right now. Whether it be on a pair of pretty pumps or a fancy manicure, I’m all for it.

If you are feeling sparkly lately like me, check out the oh-so-glittery collection of images below! I don’t know about you, but these photos make me happy!

{ASOS Premium Sequin Collar & Chinese Laundry Good Times Sequin Ballerina}

{All that Glitters Cake Topper Flags by TheCakeStandBoutique}

{Vintage Mesh Evening Bag & Vintage Chainmail Necklace}

{A|wear Shift Dress With Sequin Detail & Vintage Sparkle Change Purse}

{black smoky eye makeup with gold glitter via eyeshadow lipstick}

{Aqua Jessica One Shoulder Sequin Mini Dress & Chinese Laundry Lady Bug Party Sequin Platform Shoes}

{Wilton Edible Glitter & Platinum Glitter Gold Reusable Cupcake Wrappers}

{Free-Skate Blouse & A Million Sparks Clutch}

{3/8 Gold Glitter Ribbon & OPI "Glow Up Already" polish}

{pretty pillow via dress design decor}

{Christian Louboutin Sequin Peep-Toe Pump & Sarah Seven}

{The Royalton Hotel, NYC & Goldstone Throne Necklace}

Chicken Breast Stuffed with Gorgonzola and Mushrooms

2011-08-30T14:09:00.001-07:00

I have a picky palate and therefore need a little more oomph than just plain chicken breast with a side of some vegetable. Give me a sauce or breading…or in this case, stuff that chicken breast.

I made Chicken Breast Stuffed with Gorgonzola and Mushrooms on a whim one night while looking into my cabinets for what I had on hand.

Chicken Breast Stuffed with Gorgonzola and Mushrooms

Take a regular chicken breast and use a knife to slice a pocket through the middle part of the breast.
Slice pieces of crumbly gorgonzola cheese and lay them inside the chicken breast pocket.
Slice mushrooms and lay them inside the chicken breast pocket on top of the cheese.
Close the chicken breast pocket by folding the top flap back over the cheese and mushrooms. Securing with cord or toothpicks was not necessary.

Place the chicken breast on a foil lined baking sheet.
Drizzle with garlic olive oil (regular olive oil will do) and season with salt and pepper.
Bake at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes or until top is golden. Check for doneness.

I topped my chicken breast with balsamic caramelized onions and served steamed green beans on the side. Yum! A meal created on a whim turned out to be a nice dish that I will make again and again in the future.

Credit: Recipe and photos by me.

{Roundup}: Some Lovelies for the Day

2011-08-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

Brighten your Thursday with some pretty things!

Credit: (1) At Your Beak and Call Media Case in Penguin via ModCloth, (2) Pink colored diamond in a rose gold setting via TLC Weddings, (3) From fallen tree to end table via apartment therapy, (4) Great table arrangement via elizabeth anne designs, (5) Old San Juan, Puerto Rico via White on Rice Couple, (6) Adorable collar on Dexter the Miniature Australian Shepherd via Daily Puppy, (7) Gluten Free Cinnamon Cream Cheese Rolls via Our Best Bites, (8) Vintage 50s/60s Travel Trailer Bird House by BirdhousesByGlenn via Etsy, (9) Dior eyeliner patches via Lash Card

Enjoy!

Helpful Household Hints

2011-08-24T11:13:00.001-07:00

Everyone has their own household tips and tricks that they’ve picked up over the years. Maybe you’ve learned a great way to do something from your mother or your grandmother. Maybe you read a handy tip in Good Housekeeping that you’ve kept in your arsenal.

Well, I have a few tricks up my sleeve too and I thought I’d do a little series of Helpful Household Hints to share them with you guys.

Helpful Household Hint #1: Extending the Shelf-life of Nuts

Nuts are expensive and I usually take awhile to finish a package. I don’t want them to go to waste by going rancid. So, to keep nuts fresher a little longer, I put my nuts in the freezer. The great thing about freezing nuts, is they don’t freeze like liquids do. Just take the bags out of the freezer and the nuts are ready to go. No defrosting needed.

What tricks do you use around your household to make life a little easier or to fix the boo boos once they happen? Please share!

Credit: Photo taken by me.

Fun at the OC Fair

2011-08-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

The fair, whether it be the county fair or the state fair, is a time-honored summer tradition around the country. Growing up in Wisconsin, we had the Wisconsin State Fair. Now living here in southern California, we have the OC Fair.

Both are basically the same thing. Overpriced games and rides. Overpriced food in quantities big enough to feed a small family. Exhibits filled with the talents of amazing locals. Lots and lots of vendors offering crazy products for sale. Don’t forget the cute and fuzzy farm animals.

I was unaware, but apparently the theme of this year’s OC Fair was “Let’s Eat!” That’s a pretty appropriate theme when you can’t walk 2 feet without running into another colorful booth selling Fried Oreos or Fried Klondike Bars or even Fried Kool-Aid! I happened to read some stats today that said 2011 fairgoers ate 2,000 Fried Frog’s Legs, 3,000 Chocolate-Covered Corn Dogs, 10,000 Funnel Cakes, 10,000 servings of Fried Avocados, 75,000 Texas-Size Turkey Legs, and 125,000 servings of Totally Fried Kool-Aid. That’s a lot of balls of Fried Kool-Aid!

We certainly partook in some of that gluttony. That’s what the fair's for, isn’t it?

{My love’s fair dinner. A “Texas-size” turkey leg.}

{My love had been talking about getting a “Texas-size” turkey leg for days, but barely could finish any of it.}

{My fair dinner. “Colossal” onion rings.}

{Me in front of the booth selling “Totally Fried Kool-Aid”.}

{Alpacas. The black one is kind of creepy and kept staring at me and my camera.}

{A super cute baby angora goat stepping in its food dish.}

{A big ol’ pig. Love the “Elvis” curl to its lip.}

{Love me some cows…happy cows come from ~~California~~ Wisconsin.}

{My favorite! Adorable baby goats.}

{In the car after the fair showing off my winnings.}

{The prize we brought home for Madison is the same size she is!}

Credit: All photos taken by me at the OC Fair. Food statistics via an OC Fair press release.

Adele…

2011-08-17T12:56:00.001-07:00

Yippee! We are going to Adele’s concert tomorrow in San Diego. I am pretty excited. It should be an ah-mazing show!

You can follow this link to the video as well.

Credit: YouTube.com

My Second Favorite Cookie

2011-08-16T17:22:00.001-07:00

Ah, to finally have coconut in my cabinet meant I finally got to make one of my very favorite cookie recipes (only second to these oatmeal chocolate chip cookies). I stumbled upon this recipe in some magazine or newspaper long, long ago. Over 10 years ago. And it has been in my recipe clipping book ever since.

This recipe makes a no-fail chewy chocolate chip cookie. The chewiness is what I like most about these cookies. I think it is the coconut that helps them stay chewy. If you are not a coconut lover like me, and I know there are a lot of you guys out there, I have been told that you can’t taste the coconut in them. If you are worried about seeing the coconut, you can purchase the really shredded kind or try omitting it completely.

Four-Star Chocolate Chip Cookies {Adapted by MissJillian from recipe below}

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup (packed) light-brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-ounce package) milk chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup shredded coconut

PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees.

MIX flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

CREAM butter, sugars, and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer.

ADD the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

BEAT in the flour mixture gradually.

STIR in the chocolate chips, walnuts, and coconut.

DROP the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. I use a Silpat.

BAKE 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.

PULL from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before removing with a spatula to a wire cooling rack.

Recipe makes about 54 cookies.

Enjoy!

Credit: Recipe from an unknown source adapted by me. All photos taken by me.

Inside the Dragon Fruit

2011-08-15T16:24:00.001-07:00

Remember this guy?

We bought this dragon fruit to try something new. I had to find a video tutorial on how to cut it open. Luckily, it wasn’t too difficult. They sure are pretty on the inside. Amazing contrast of color!

To eat the dragon fruit, we took the pieces, blended them, and added them into margaritas. The outcome? Lots and lots of seeds in my straw and most likely I have a dragon fruit growing somewhere in my belly now. :)

Credit: All photos taken by me.

Craft Envy

2011-08-11T16:26:00.001-07:00

I wish I had the kind of DIY talent it would take to make this light fixture.

This amazing wine bottle creation hangs in the We Olive & Wine Bar at The OC Mart MIX.

If you live in Orange County CA, I strongly recommend you check them out (especially on a Thursday for $1 Taco and $5 Sangria night from 6pm-8pm or on a Saturday for the SoCo Farmers’ Market complete with food trucks and live music from 9am-2pm). Fun times!

Credit: Light fixture found at We Olive & Wine Bar at The OC Mart MIX. Photo taken by me.

Nut & Berry Granola

2011-08-09T11:07:00.001-07:00

{Homemade Nut & Berry Granola}

I’ve been on a granola kick lately. It happened on a recent trip to Trader Joe’s when I spotted some yummy Pecan Praline Granola. From that point on, it was all history and I’ve been eating and craving granola ever since.

{Trader Joe’s Pecan Praline Granola}

Last week, my friend Jessica whipped up a batch of her favorite granola recipe and it did not disappoint. In fact, I liked it so much that this weekend I made my own personal batch.

And because we were attending a dinner party that same evening, I was able to package some in a pretty canister and bring it as a homemade hostess gift.

Now on to the recipe!

NUT & BERRY GRANOLA

Ingredients:

3 cups of Rolled Oats
2/3 cup Raw Slice Almonds
2/3 cup Roasted Unsalted Cashews
2/3 cup California Walnut Baking Pieces
3/4 cup Shredded Sweet Coconut
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Maple Syrup
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
3/4 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Dried Cranberries

Instructions:

PREHEAT your oven to 250 degrees.
MIX oats, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar in a large bowl.
MIX syrup, oil, and salt in a small bowl.
COMBINE dry and wet ingredients thoroughly.
SPREAD mixture on a large ungreased rimmed baking sheet.
BAKE for 1 hour and 15 minutes stirring with a spatula at 15 minute intervals.
ADD dried cranberries for the last 15 minute interval.
COOL, then package and eat!

*I added a little more coconut after the granola cooled just because I like coconut and wanted a bit more.

{See all the nuts, cranberries, and coconut? Yum!}

Credit: Recipe adapted from my friend Jessica’s adaptation of Alton Brown’s Granola recipe on Food Network. Granola pictured was made by me. Photos taken by me as well.

Candyfornia.

2011-08-08T15:38:00.001-07:00

Last night (yes, on a Sunday), we went to see Katy Perry’s concert in L.A. at the NOKIA Theatre. I tried to be selective with the photos I chose to post, but as usual instead of “less is more” I went with my stand-by “more is more” route.

The concert was complete sensory overload. I hope some of the photos do that justice.

I’m always up for a good celebrity sighting, and we got a few of them at this concert. First we saw Perez Hilton down in the Nokia Lounge. Then Russell Brand showed up to watch his wife perform and brought Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise with him.

They were standing behind us the entire time surrounded by security. I have to say it was pretty distracting. Mostly because I kept wanting to check out Russell Brand’s reaction.

There were tons of props and amazing dancers throughout the show. In this song, the dancers were doing trapeze-cirque du soleil-style maneuvers that were mucho impressive. In hindsight, I wish I would have taken some video.

Katy Perry beat Lady Gaga in terms of wardrobe changes and I didn’t think that was possible. In the course of this song alone, Katy changed her costume well over 6 times!

It was a great show. I think anyone would be hard-pressed to leave this concert without being entertained.

Check out some videos I took too…sorry they are shaky. Recording video with my digital camera is not my strong suit. I just HAD to take video of California Gurls for my 4-year old niece back in Wisconsin in hopes of impressing her. She sings me the song all the time since I’m her auntie that lives in California. So sweet.

Video: Firework by Katy Perry

Video: California Gurls by Katy Perry

Oh yeah…that shriek at 1:41 is me. Those beach balls came out of nowhere and scared the living daylights out of me. :)

Credit: All photos taken by either me or my love. Videos taken by me. Katy Perry – The California Dreams Tour 2011 concert at NOKIA Theatre L.A. Live.

I spy with my little eye…

2011-08-08T13:24:00.001-07:00

…a color theme infiltrating my latest Pinterest pins.

And such a lovely color combo it is!

Credit: Ceramic pitchers from josefinebentzen.com, cupcakes three ways from homemadesimple.com, Lords South Beach Hotel in Miami from weheart.co.uk, Luce Del Sole ring from shabbyapple.com, and Ravenna Leaf earrings from shabbyapple.com.

Creamy Lemon Dessert

2011-08-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

I have a sweet tooth.

A major sweet tooth.

I’ll pretty much eat almost any dessert. It’s kind of a problem.

My love is the opposite though. He doesn’t like sweets very much at all. Well, with the exception of any dessert his mother makes. Apparently her sweets don’t count.

This is well and good, except I like to bake. Since it’s just the two of us, if I bake, I’m left to eat all of baked goods myself. There in lies the problem. Well, that combined with my utter lack of willpower when it comes to sweets of almost any kind.

This dessert I’m going to share with you is one of the few desserts that my love likes and will actually eat.

Creamy Lemon Dessert

Ingredients:

9-inch square pan
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lemon juice
Few drops yellow food coloring (optional)
16 graham cracker squares
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted margarine or butter

POUR heavy whipping cream into a large bowl.

CHILL in the refrigerator. Whipping cream will whip better in a cold bowl.

In the meantime, PREPARE the graham cracker crust.

HEAT oven to 350 degrees.

PLACE a few crackers in a plastic bag and CRUSH into fine crumbs using a rolling pin or can.

REPEAT until all crackers are crushed.

MIX cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter/margarine in a medium bowl.

PRESS mixture firmly and evenly along the bottom of a 9-inch square pan.

BAKE 10 minutes.

COOL. While crust is cooling, continue with the rest of the recipe.

MIX sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside.

ADD a few drops of yellow food coloring to the chilled heavy whipping cream (optional). This is purely to achieve that “lemon” color. I omit this step and my dessert turns out more of a white than a yellow, but that’s fine with me.

BEAT the whipping cream with an electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. This usually takes 5 or 6 minutes.

Gently POUR the lemon mixture over the whipped cream.

FOLD together using a rubber spatula. Continue mixing until ingredients are blended.

POUR the folded mixture over the cooled graham cracker crust.

SPREAD evenly.

COVER and REFRIGERATE at least 2 hours but no longer than 48 hours.

SERVE by cutting into 3-inch squares.

COVER and REFRIGERATE any leftover dessert.

Credit: Photos taken by me. Dessert in the photo was made by me as well. Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker’s Cooking Basics.

Fun with Color.

2011-08-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

The goal of Idée Inc. is to make images searchable by developing advancing image identification and visual search software. These are the amazing minds that created TinEye. If you are not familiar with TinEye, it is a reverse image search engine. This means you can submit an image to TinEye to find out where it came from and where it is being used. Pretty much, it is like a Google image search, but you input a picture instead of text. Ah-mazing.

Now Idée has created something called Multicolr Search Lab and it’s an amazing color tool that’s really great for creating color theme boards. It’s as simple as clicking on color swatches and Multicolr Search Lab pulls various Flickr images that contain your chosen colors.

Here are some examples of color boards I’m made using the program:

I can see this free tool really coming in handy for creating color palettes and harmonious color schemes. Give it a try. And have fun!

Credit: Idée Inc. Images above created by me using Multicolr Search Lab.

My Last 5 Pins…

2011-08-03T11:18:00.001-07:00

Is anyone else on Pinterest? It’s one of my addictions. I’ve worked my way up to 41 Pinterest boards and 8,367 pins.

Now if you are not familiar with Pinterest, it’s basically a site where you can bookmark (a) things you love, (b) things you want to come back to, and (c) things others bookmark. Except, the bookmarks are called pins, and the pins are images attached to links. So you can clearly see what it is you’ve pinned without having to visit the URLs to refresh your memory. It’s pretty great. Especially for a “list girl” like me.

On top of all that, it’s a social community where you can gain followers who can re-pin and comment on your pins.

Check out my last 5 pins…

It’s weird. I’m normally not a big fan of wedges. But these, I like.

{MOMA 2 Platform Pumps in Tan by Bakers – pinned to “For the love of SHOES”}

For pretty much no reason at all, for years I have been saving every cork from every wine bottle we’ve opened in our house. Now I have an idea of what to do with them.

{Wine Cork Fine Art Tutorial on the new home ec – pinned to “DIY that I have got to TRY”}

I’m on the fence. I can’t decide if I like these paper false eyelashes or not. What occasion exactly would these be appropriate for?

{Paperself Paper False Eyelashes on Lash Card – pinned to “All Things Beauty”}

What a great way to repurpose an old window!

{Etched Map Serving Tray Tutorial on Design*Sponge – pinned to “DIY that I have got to TRY”}

Rarely do I watch “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette”, but I did happen to see part of the last episode with the proposal. Man oh man! That ring she got could quite possibly be the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen.

{The Bachelorette’s Neil Lane Diamond and Platinum Ring on USmagazine.com – pinned to “Dream Wedding”}

Follow me on Pinterest!

Credit: All screen shots taken from Pinterest. MOMA 2 platform pumps by Bakers, wine cork fine art tutorial by the new home ec, paper false eyelashes by Paperself and featured on Lash Card, etched map serving tray tutorial by Design*Sponge, and Neil Lane diamond and platinum ring featured on “The Bachelorette” and USmagazine.com.

“One Day” Trailer

2011-08-03T00:03:00.001-07:00

I’m intrigued…

After spending the night together on the night of their college graduation Dexter and Em are shown each year on the same date to see where they are in their lives. They are sometimes together, sometimes not, on that day.

You can follow this link to the trailer video as well.

Release date of August 19, 2011. Rated PG-13 for sexual content, partial nudity, language, some violence and substance abuse.

Credit: YouTube.com and Imdb.com.

Trying something new…

2011-08-02T17:30:00.001-07:00

Hit up the grocery store this weekend on a kick to try something new. Well, we’ve never had one of these in our house before. Meet the dragon fruit. Pretty right?

Our first idea was to use this beautiful dragon fruit for margarita madness at our house Sunday evening…but I didn’t know how to cut it and had to find a YouTube tutorial before attempting to butcher the lovely fruit. Instead we just stuck to a strawberry and mango combo (frozen-style to beat the heat) for our impromptu margarita party. Still very tasty!

I’ll be cutting into the dragon fruit soon (now that I know how) and can’t wait to taste what I’ve been missing my whole life. Since I’m new to this fruit, do any of you out there have any recipe suggestions? Any kind of recipe, from food to drink, will do. Or am I better off enjoying the goodness just cut into pieces and eating it alone?

Wish me luck!

Credit: Photo taken by me.

Oh So Very Lovely Cake Pops!

2011-07-28T17:56:00.001-07:00

What better way to resurrect a blog that has been lacking attention lately, than with Cake Pops!

Cake Pops are relatively easy to make and have a certain “WOW” factor to them, it’s just a matter of mastering a technique that works for you. Working with melted chocolate is a skill.

CAKE POPS

What you need:

Box of chocolate cake mix (plus ingredients required by the box’s instructions)
Can of ready-made chocolate frosting
Lollipop sticks
Semi-sweet chocolate chips (2 bags)
Sprinkles

Notes:

You can substitute the chocolate cake mix and chocolate frosting with whatever flavor tickles your fancy. I found my lollipop sticks at Michael’s Arts & Crafts and a package of the shorter size was relatively affordable for 50 sticks. You could use your imagination though and use other items in place of the sticks (i.e. sturdy straws, pretzel sticks, toothpicks will work in a pinch, etc.). The type of chocolate you use for dipping is a matter or personal preference too. For different colored cake pops you can go with white chocolate and add food coloring, or simply use colored baking chips. I start with one bag of chocolate, melt it, and have the second bag handy to add if I need more chocolate for dipping.

Instructions:

BAKE the cake mix according to ingredients required and instructions on the box.
COOL cake until about room temperature.
BREAK up cake until it is broken into fine cake pieces. You don’t want any big chunks.
In a bowl, ADD about half a can of ready-made frosting to cake crumbles. You are looking for a doughy consistency. Mix until frosting is worked throughout and you have an even texture.
FORM into balls (about 1 1/2 tablespoons in size).
PLACE cake balls onto a wax paper or Silpat-lined baking sheet and FREEZE for about 5 minutes.
ADD lollipop sticks.
FREEZE for about 10 minutes (just to make the pops more manageable for dipping in the melted chocolate).
In the meantime, start to MELT your chocolate chips. A double-boiler is the way to go and will ensure you do not scorch your chocolate giving you more time to dip without feeling rushed.
DIP your pops in the melted chocolate. I have found that using a spoon and pouring the chocolate onto the pops works best for me.
Lightly SHAKE off excess chocolate and DECORATE with your choice of sprinkles before replacing the pop back on the lined baking sheet.
After all pops have been dipped and decorated, put pops back in the freezer for about 20 minutes so chocolate can set. Then you can feel freeze to package them however you’d like. If you are going to put them into a tupperware, it’s best to line between the layers with waxed paper.

I made these one day for a pot luck for work…work, is why I have not been paying nearly enough attention to this blog lately. A full-time position took me away from my daily blogging. But alas, it was only a temporary position and I am back again searching for that ever-elusive dream job.

As I was saying, I made these for a pot luck and they were a hit. I mean, who doesn’t want to eat a cake pop. Am I right or am I right? I also made some Peeps Pops for the same pot luck, but I will post that recipe at another time. You’ll want to make those for sure because they are complete and utter deliciousness, so keep an eye out for that upcoming post.

Credit: Photo taken by me. Pops pictured in the photo were made by me as well. Recipe adapted from Love From The Oven.

Glad to be back!

This is just a TEST…

2011-07-27T15:31:00.001-07:00

Hi all! Just a quick little test. I have not been on the blog for WAY. TOO. LONG. Anyhoo…because of that, I need to run a little test here to see if Live Writer still works with Blogger. Will write more soon, so stay tuned!

Crushin’ On Color: Red

2010-12-27T04:30:00.000-08:00

Red, so vibrant and bold, is the color of the holiday season.

Credit: Photography by kaitlyn sullivan via Poppytalk

Crushin’ On Color: Purple

2010-12-20T04:30:00.000-08:00

The deep deep purple of these blackberries is so very elegant.

Credit: Photography by Rebekah Westover via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Crushin’ On Color: Pink

2010-12-13T04:30:00.000-08:00

Lovely shades of pink make for a beautifully romantic tablescape.

Credit: Style Me Pretty

Just listed in my Etsy shop!

2010-12-07T18:00:00.001-08:00

I just listed a birthday card in my Etsy shop. Photos and a link to the listing is below. Enjoy!

Listing for Snowy Birthday Card on Etsy found here.

Credit: Photos taken by me. Birthday card hand made by me as well.

Wintery Birthday Card – The Blue Version

2010-12-07T15:03:00.001-08:00

Last week I made a snowman inspired birthday card. I liked it so much that I decided to make a blue version to send my great uncle for his upcoming birthday.

Hope you like the blue version as much as the original!

I plan to make another version of this card for my Etsy shop, so keep an eye out for that too!

Credit: Photos taken by me. Birthday card hand made by me as well.

Just listed in my Etsy shop!

2010-12-06T14:57:00.001-08:00

I just listed a birthday card in my Etsy shop. Photos and a link to the listing is below. Enjoy!

Listing for Typewriter Cake Birthday Card on Etsy found here.

Credit: Photos taken by me. Birthday card hand made by me as well.

Crushin’ On Color: Yellow

2010-12-06T04:30:00.000-08:00

Yellow is one of my favorite colors right now. I don’t know what it is about it. Maybe the brightness and happiness that it seems to invoke? Maybe because it has a warm summery feeling? Whatever it is, I am drawn to it and it makes me joyful.

Credit: Photography by Rebekah Westover via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Wintery Birthday Card

2010-12-05T05:30:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed making this hand-made, hand-cut, and hand-glued snowman themed birthday card. Hope you all like it! And I hope it already made it to the birthday girl so I didn’t ruin the surprise.

All pieces were hand-drawn and hand-cut, and the snowflakes were added by hand using a silver marker. The font used on both the front and inside of the card is “A Little Pot” (a free font that can be found on Dafont.com) that I traced onto cardstock with a thin-tip black marker.

Credit: All photos taken by me. Birthday card made by me as well.

Just listed in my Etsy shop!

2010-12-03T17:17:00.001-08:00

This Thinking of You Sympathy Card has just been listed in my Etsy shop. Photos and a link to the listing is below.

Listing for Thinking of You Sympathy Card on Etsy found here.

Credit: Photos taken by me. Sympathy card hand made by me as well.

Just listed in my Etsy shop!

2010-12-02T22:29:00.001-08:00

In addition to some sweet little felt barrettes, I just listed a birthday card in my Etsy shop. Photos and a link to the listing is below. Enjoy!

Listing for Hedgehog Queen Birthday Card on Etsy found here.

Credit: Photos taken by me. Birthday card hand made by me as well.

Just listed in my Etsy shop!

2010-12-02T20:51:00.001-08:00

I just listed some stuffed felt barrettes in my Etsy shop. Here are some photos and links to the listings. Hope you like them!

Listing for Sweet & Adorable Stuffed Felt CUPCAKE Barrette on Etsy found here.

Listing for Bright & Sparkly Stuffed Felt GOLDFISH Barrette on Etsy found here.

Listing for Charming & Cute Stuffed LOVE Heart Barrette on Etsy found here.

Credit: Photos taken by me. All barrettes hand made by me as well.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-02T14:25:00.001-08:00

I figured before Thanksgiving was too far in the past (and it’s already been a week), I should post about it and the cooking I did for the holiday. My love and I were lucky enough to be invited to our friends’ house to celebrate and we had a really wonderful time. Thanksgiving is one of my very favorite holidays. I mean, what’s not to like about a holiday centered around getting together with family, friends, football, and food?

What was really great too, was that I got assigned food to bring. Yay! Since I live so far away from my family, I long for the parties I miss and the food I don’t get to bring to them. I get jealous when I hear of the cupcakes and dessert my cousin got to make. :(

Back to Thanksgiving though…I got assigned dessert, but I kind of got carried away reading my recipe book and ended up making an appetizer and side too. I’ll post recipes later, but here’s what I brought to the festivities: Deviled Eggs, Mini Cornbread Muffins, Peanut Butter Marshmallow Crunch Brownies (which are always a hit), Creamy Lemon Dessert, and I picked up a store-bought Pumpkin Pie.

Thanksgiving was wonderful and our hosts were beyond gracious. There was so much yummy food (delicious crab dip, tasty turkey, succulent honey baked ham, yummy spiced cider, and so much other great stuff) that my tummy is still recovering from the over indulging. I LOVE THANKSGIVING!!!

Credit: All food pictured make by me and all photos taken by me as well.

Vail Trip – Day Two – November 2010

2010-11-30T16:56:00.001-08:00

While day one on the mountain in Vail was spent trying to get our bearings again, day two was a little easier and a little more fun. It helped a lot that my love was feeling much better. He was able to finally concentrate and enjoy himself on the 2nd day.

We had some good runs and had lots of fun…up until the end of the last run that is, when I banged my knee on a wooden wall covering a bridge. It was a dumb move and my knee instantly swelled up. That was the end of snowboarding for us. We skipped the last day on the mountain, instead opting for the comfort of our condo and watching the Packers play. I think it was a good choice considering a week later my knee still has a giant purple bruise.

Ooooh, and day two also consisted of a yummy pizza lunch. If you are ever in Vail, be sure to check out the delicious pizza at Blue Moose Pizza in the Lionshead Vail Square.

Here are some photos from day two!

Credit: Photos taken by me in Vail, Colorado. A handful of these photos were also taken by my love using his cell phone camera.

Vail Trip – Day One – November 2010

2010-11-30T15:39:00.001-08:00

One of the reasons why I haven’t been blogging as much this month, is that we took a trip to Vail, Colorado a few weekends back. I grew up with lots of snow in my life every winter, so I’m not one of those people easily amazed by season…but Colorado with all its beautiful mountains is a different story. Even I can admit that the snow was really pretty covering the peaks of all the gorgeous mountains.

Me and my love snowboard…but keep in mind that this was only our 3rd time snowboarding ever. The first and second time were both last winter, and the first time was a lesson. So we are newbies at this sport for sure. And I wouldn’t exactly say that Vail is for newbies. It was a big departure from our usual mountains of Big Bear, California.

We spent the first day on the mountain just trying to get our bearings and re-learn the basics. My love referred to it as our “training day.” The first run we did on the mountain was not a good choice (and it certainly didn’t help that my love wasn’t feeling to well), but we found better runs later in the day and ended on a much better note than the day started.

Here are some photos from day one!

Credit: All photos taken by me in Vail, Colorado.

Big 3-Oh Birthday Card

2010-11-29T15:27:00.001-08:00

I made this hand-made, hand-cut, and hand-glued 30th birthday card in mid-November. Sorry for the late posting.

This card was my attempt to both (1) make a 30th birthday themed card and to (2) make a masculine card as well. Cards for boys are tough! Hope you like it!

The three and the zero were hand-drawn and hand-cut from black cardstock, then hand-glued, and finally hand-embellished with tiny silver polka dot studding using a silver marker. The font in the interior of the card is “Honey Script” a free font that can be found on Dafont.com.

A matching version of this card may be available for purchase on my Etsy shop in the future…so keep an eye out for that.

Credit: Birthday card made by me and photos taken by me as well.

Missing in Action

2010-11-29T15:02:00.001-08:00

An apology is in order…

I feel like such a slacker being absent from the blog for so long. There is really no excuse, so I’m not going to make any. Instead I am just going to stop being a slacker.

More posts soon as I get back on track with the regular posting. :)

Crushin’ On Color: White

2010-11-29T04:30:00.000-08:00

White roses, lilacs, peonies, and anemones paired with a little greenery, makes the perfect classic centerpiece for an elegant event.

Credit: Photography by Marlin Munoz via Style Me Pretty

Crushin’ On Color: Teal

2010-11-22T04:30:00.000-08:00

Teal adds the perfect kick of color amongst of sea of white and grey.

Credit: Photography by Dean Thorsen via Style Me Pretty

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

2010-11-16T05:30:00.000-08:00

I found this recipe awhile back and it makes for the most delicious pulled pork ever. So tender, a little kick of spice, and perfect when topped with some sweet barbecue sauce and served on a bun.

What I love too is that since we are only a household of two, it makes enough pulled pork for about three meals and nibbling here and there (so about 10 pulled pork sandwiches total).

Oh, and did I mention that the recipe is SO beyond easy?

I usually use a 2 to 3 pound pork shoulder with the bone in. You can definitely go bigger if you are feeding more people, just let it hang out a tad longer in the crock pot. You also want to be sure to keep that nice big hunk of fat that is on one side of the pork. Do NOT cut that off.

Here’s what you need to make the dry rub:

Dry Rub

1 tablespoon Ground Cumin
1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
1 tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
1 tablespoon Salt
1 tablespoon Ground Pepper
1 tablespoon Paprika
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
(optional: 1 tablespoon of Onion Powder and 1 tablespoon Chili Powder)

COMBINE the above ingredients and MIX together with a spoon. This should make a bit more dry rub than you will actually need, but you can put the leftover rub into an unused spice container and save it for the next time you want to make this recipe (and you will want to make this recipe again).

DRY pork shoulder with a paper towel.

ROLL pork shoulder into dry rub covering the entire outside with a coating of the spices.

PLACE coated pork shoulder into a crock pot and SPRINKLE top with a little more dry rub.

COOK on LOW for 8 to 10 hours. Cooking longer will only make it better.

After 8 to 10 hours, REMOVE the pork shoulder from the crock pot.

Using two forks, PULL apart pork into shredded pieces. It will fall right off the bone.

POUR juices left in the bottom of the crock pot back on top of the pulled pork.

SERVE topped with barbecue sauce (we like Sweet Baby Ray’s) on the buns or rolls of your liking. You could also used this pulled pork on tacos. It would be delicious.

See credits and notes below. Enjoy!

Credit: Photo taken by me. Food in photo was made by me as well. Recipe adapted from The Nerd’s Wife. The difference between her recipe and mine is that she also adds onion powder and chili powder to her rub. Since I don’t have them in my cabinet, I omitted them. She also does a brine to her pork before cooking in the crock pot. I’ve skipped this part both times I’ve made it, and it is so darn tasty even without the brine, that I don’t bother.

Crushin’ On Color: Silver

2010-11-15T04:30:00.000-08:00

Silver. There is just something about the color silver that makes everything seem a bit fancier and special.

Credit: Photography by Marlin Munoz via Style Me Pretty

Ode to Inspiration

2010-11-12T20:10:00.001-08:00

Happy Friday! Here’s a little dose of inspiration to start the weekend…

Credit: bekah campbell via mary ruffle via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Credit: Prudent Baby

Credit: promotional letterpress coasters were created by the Parliament of Owls for the Cranky Pressman Printery & Bindery via Paper Crave

Credit: color charts featured on Imprint via Design*Sponge

Credit: ffffound via A Beautiful Mess

Thirsty Thursday…Key Lime Pie Martini

2010-11-11T10:45:00.001-08:00

I stumbled upon this little cocktail and it caught my eye. What’s not to like about a pie translated into a yummy cocktail?

Enjoy!

Key Lime Pie Cocktail

Lime Juice
Graham Crackers crumbled
1 1/2 oz. Key Lime Cream Liqueur
1 1/2 oz. Vanilla Vodka
Fresh Lime
1 1/2 oz. Half-and-Half

DIP rim of a martini glass in lime juice.

DIP rim of the same martini glass into graham cracker crumbs.

POUR Key Lime Cream Liqueur, Vanilla Vodka, and a squeeze of fresh lime into a shaker.

SHAKE well.

STRAIN mixture into the graham cracker rimmed martini glass.

ADD half-and-half to fill.

Credit: Recipe adapted courtesy of Liquidchefs via The Knot. Photo via Food Network.

Custom Invitations – “You Are Invited to the Club…”

2010-11-10T13:32:00.001-08:00

Back in September I was commissioned to make custom invitations for a party my friend Stephanie was throwing. The party theme was “Playboy Pajama Party” and the invites I created were made to reflect that theme.

For the front I cut-out a vintage Playboy Club bunny’s silhouette from black cardstock paper flecked with lots of glittering silver specks. A black linen border was added for an added accent. I decorated the back of the invitation with Playboy bunny ears and a Hugh Hefner-esque pipe made from the same shimmery black cardstock.

You can see photos of my handiwork below. I hope you like the invitations!

I wish I had some event photos to show you as well, but alas, the party was canceled. Boo!

All invitations in the set were hand-made, hand-cut, and hand-glued. The event details were printed onto the invitations using an inkjet printer. Normally I would write the details by hand, but in this case the paper was a little too thick for me to transfer the chosen font (via dafont.com)

For more information you can see my previous post regarding these custom invitations here and here. You can see the original Etsy listing here.

And please contact me via missjilliandesigns{at}gmail{dot}com or via my Etsy shop using the “contact” option in the left-hand column if you are interested in commissioning custom invitations for your own event.

Credit: All photos taken by me. Invitations created and handmade by me as well. Wording for invitations by event planner Stephanie Larson of Pink Parfait Events. For more information about Stephanie Larson and Pink Parfait’s event planning services see my post here.

Crushin’ On Color: Peach

2010-11-08T04:30:00.000-08:00

I love the warm feeling this peach dessert table emanates. It really sets the mood for a happy and joyous celebration.

Credit: Twig & Thistle

Weekend {Roundup}: Thanksgiving Side Dishes

2010-11-07T04:30:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, so I’m trying to get a head start on finding recipes. Here is a roundup of some slightly non-traditional variations on traditional side dishes.

Personally, I’m dying to try the Cranberry Mold (#2) because I am not a fan of actual cranberry chunks in my cranberry…and the Broccoli Casserole (#3) because it is a nice alternative to the usual Green Bean Casserole.

I actually really love Green Bean Casserole. It is one of my all-time favorite holiday recipes. And I like it best the traditional way, made with cream of mushroom soup and crunchy French onions. I also crave Cranberry Jelly (the canned kind) and good ol’ Pumpkin Pie at the holidays. Yum yum!

What are your favorite Thanksgiving dishes that you look forward to each year?

Hope this recipe roundup helps you get a head start on your holiday menu planning.

Credit: (1) Sweet Potato Pecan Casserole by Ellie Krieger for Food Network Magazine via Food Network, (2) Cranberry Mold from Food Network, (3) Broccoli Casserole by Paula Deen via Food Network, (4) Bacon Cheddar Mashed Potatoes from Food Network, (5) Brussels Sprouts Gratin by T'afia for Food Network Magazine via Food Network, (6) Scalloped Sweet Potatoes from Tasty Kitchen, (7) French’s Green Bean Casserole, (8) Maple Ginger Glazed Carrots from Good Housekeeping via Delish, (9) Roasted Chestnut Sausage Dressing by Tyler Florence via Food Network, (10) Wild Rice and Toasted Almond Pilaf from Melissa Cooks Gourmet, (11) Martha’s Macaroni and Cheese from Smitten Kitchen, (12) Honey Cornbread Muffins by The Neelys via Food Network

Birthday Card - Typewriter Cake

2010-11-05T13:18:00.001-07:00

I made this hand-made, hand-cut, and hand-glued typewriter birthday card last week. The birthday cake “typed” onto the typewriter paper was created by me using computer key strokes. I think it turned out cute. Hope you like it!

A matching version of this card will be available on my Etsy shop. When that is listed for sale, I will post again to let you know.

UPDATE: For sale on Etsy here.

Credit: Photos taken by me. Birthday card made by me as well.

Ode to Inspiration

2010-11-05T05:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Here’s a little dose of inspiration to start the weekend…

Credit: Large fridge magnet by M-C Turgeon via When I Grow Up

Credit: Bergdorf Goodman’s plush blue cactus via Racked NY

Credit: beautiful watercolor by Anna Emilia via Sycamore Street Press

Credit: delfonic pens via Parcel Post

Credit: via design for mankind

Things that make me happy.

2010-11-04T17:52:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I received a surprise package from my cousin Sarah and her husband Chad. The care package was to thank my love and I for having them as visitors a few weeks ago. It was really really sweet and made my day when I needed a little pick-me-up.

They even thought of our little Madison. She got her own note and her own special gift.

Look at the goodies they sent!

Some Chiclets to remind us of the day trip we took to Tijuana, Lemonheads which are my very favorite candy, Nesquik because I taught Sarah how to put it on ice cream when we were little, a can of clovers to “Grow Your Own Luck”, a bag of Jameson Irish Whiskey Fudge, and a photo from their visit that they got signed by Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks.

I think the clovers and fudge may have come from Sarah’s recent trip to Dublin too, which makes those even more special.

Thank you Sarah and Chad for being so thoughtful and great houseguests too! We had a lot of fun during your visit and can’t wait until you come back again!

UPDATE: The clovers and the fudge did in fact come from Ireland. The Whiskey Fudge came from the Jameson Distillery and the can of shamrocks from the gift store at the Dublin Castle.

Credit: Photos taken and edited by me.

Thirsty Thursday…Apple Pie Cocktail

2010-11-04T14:20:00.001-07:00

Even though it’s in the 90s here, it is Fall weather somewhere. Here is a drink that has a Fall-feel to it and is refreshing even for a hot day too.

Apple Pie Cocktail

2 Apple Slices
1/2 oz. Agave Nectar
1 pinch Apple Pie Spice
1/2 oz. fresh Lemon Juice
1 1/2 oz. Core Vodka
Thinly sliced red apple, for garnish

MUDDLE apple slices in agave nectar, apple pie spice, and lemon juice.

ADD ice and vodka and SHAKE well.

STRAIN over ice in an old-fashioned glass.

GARNISH with thinly sliced red apple.

Credit: Drink recipe adapted from The Knot. Picture also from The Knot.

{Roundup}: Polka Dots

2010-11-03T13:33:00.001-07:00

Polka dots make me happy, and I need a little something to make me happy right about now. Check out all these cute spotted items I found around the Internet.

Credit: (1) Paso Doble Dress by Leifsdottir from Anthropologie, (2) Les Ateliers Ruby Pavillon Colette Helmet from Colette, (3) Stainless Steel Flask by whimsy and ink, (4) Fabric Cards in Mocha and Cream Polka Dot by Lockette, (5) Polka Dot Baking Cups from Bake It Pretty, (6) Blacklight Blouse by Odille from Anthropologie, (7) skirt via ish and chi, (8) Pink Rose On Black and White Polka Dot Pillow by bed buggs, (9) Origami Butterflies in Black and White by layla lou studio

If only I had all the money in the world…

2010-11-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some lovely things I have seen lately.

Love love love this color-blocked tee. It has a scoop neck, a pocket, soft colors, and looks super comfy…what more could a girl want?

{centerpiece tee from Madewell}

What a pretty pretty ring. A lovely blue topaz in a gold square setting.

{Polly Wales empress ring via catbird}

This would make such a pretty party dress. I just adore all the sequins and how sweet and playful it looks.

{Anna Sui silk and tulle sequin embellished dress via net-a-porter.com}

A business card in a stamp? What a great idea! I love the fact that, depending on your mood, you can stamp your cards in whatever color your heart desires at that moment in time.

{personal branding stamp by MaeMae Paperie}

I couldn’t decide which headband I liked better, so here are 2 stunning headbands. The first is a bit fancier. More for a night on the town. The second is a great everyday option. But both are 100% gorgeous.

{l and g by ban.do}

Credit: Madewell, Polly Wales, catbird, Anna Sui, net-a-porter.com, MaeMae Paperie, ban.do

Crushin’ On Color: Red

2010-11-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

I love these bright and festive red striped cupcake liners. They are the perfect compliment to beautifully frosted Strawberry Golden Oreo Cupcakes.

Credit: Strawberry Golden Oreo Cupcakes via Baking Junkie

Weekend {Roundup}: Halloween Baking

2010-10-31T05:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

While I don’t get into scary movies or haunted houses or dressing up in costume, I can get on board with baking up cute and spooky Halloween treats. Here’s a roundup of some great Halloween baking ideas around the Internet for your Halloween viewing pleasure.

Credit: (1) Little Devil Cupcakes from Made With Pink, (2) Chocolate Nutella Spider Cupcakes from Recipe Girl, (3) Skeleton Cupcakes from cookies and cups, (4) Frightening Frankenstein Cupcakes via Hostess {with the Mostess}, (5) Candy Corn Cheesecake via grin and bake it, (6) Spooky Witch Cupcakes by Danielle via A Beautiful Mess, (7) Orange Tinted Rice Krispie Treats Drizzled in Chocolate via Hostess {with the Mostess}, (8) Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes from Annie’s Eats, (9) Cauldron Cupcakes via grin and bake it

Morning Glory

2010-10-30T05:30:00.000-07:00

No “What I’m Working On…” post today, since I have kept pretty up-to-date on sharing all my projects with you this week. There is however a birthday card in the works, but I cannot show that to you until it reaches the birthday girl.

I am very excited for Halloween to be over soon because I can’t wait to no longer have to repeatedly see commercials for scary movies. Me and scary movies do not mesh well together. In fact, I hate them. I may be a baby, but that’s just fine with me.

I am looking forward to more commercials for movies like “Morning Glory” with Rachel McAdams (release date November 10, 2010). Have you seen the trailer for this movie yet? Looks cute to me. And it’s by the same screen writer that did “The Devil Wears Prada.”

You can follow this link to the trailer video as well.

Credit: imdb.com

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies…with PRETZELS!

2010-10-29T16:32:00.001-07:00

About a week ago I posted about some Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies I baked (you can see that post and recipe here). Well, I had a hankering to bake today, so I made this cookie recipe again…but this time, with a slight modification.

I added 1/2 cup of pretzels!

I can’t take credit for this idea whatsoever because I originally saw it when reading Lovin’ From the Oven. So smart!

What it does is add a little crunch (like a nut, but without the nut) to the cookie. And another bonus is that the pretzels add a little extra salt. So you get the sweet from the chocolate and the salt from the pretzel which is really nice.

I only added a 1/2 cup of pretzels, but you could add more than that. I was just being cautious since I’ve never tried adding pretzels before. In the future, I’d probably add a full cup instead. Also, I used tiny pretzel sticks broken up into pieces. You could use whatever pretzel shape you’d like or happen to have lying around your house.

I hope you enjoy these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip and Pretzel Cookies! And have a great weekend too!

Credit: Recipe adapted from here and Lovin’ From the Oven. Cookies pictured were baked by me. All photos take by me as well.

Ode to Inspiration

2010-10-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Here’s a little dose of inspiration to start the weekend…

Credit: Purple glitter from The Gilded Bee

Credit: Images by Tiff of Dottie Angel via a room somewhere

Credit: Art print from Love Sugar Design via Paper Crave

Credit: Image captured by photographer MK Wong via oh joy!

Credit: Shop window at Lulu Guinness via Racked NY

Completed Stuffed “Love” Heart Barrette

2010-10-28T16:02:00.001-07:00

Today I made a Stuffed “Love” Heart Barrette. It’s stuffed with fiberfill, stitched with the word “love,” and decorated with white iridescent bugle beads to for a little added sparkle.

I hope you guys like it!

I’m thinking about making a variation of this in a ornament (a similar heart in a larger size). What do you think?

Once I get this Stuffed “Love” Heart Barrette packaged nicely, I’ll be adding it to my Etsy shop. I’ll let you know with another post when that happens.

You can see more photos on my Facebook page if you are interested.

Credit: Photo taken by me. Photo editing by me using Photoshop. Felt heart sewn by me as well.

Thirsty Thursday…Pumpkin Mojito

2010-10-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

I swear, Hostess with the Mostess is one of my very favorite blogs. They are so very creative over there and I am infinitely envious of their talents.

This week I was catching up on some blog reading and stumbled upon a recipe for Pumpkin Mojitos via Hostess with the Mostess. And once I saw this drink, I knew it had to be my drink of the week. You can’t go wrong with a mojito.

Pumpkin Mojito

1 1/4 oz. Rum
11 Mint Leaves
1 tablespoon Pumpkin
1/2 a Lime
1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
2 oz. Soda

MUDDLE mint leaves and sugar.

ADD rum, pumpkin, soda, and juice from 1/2 a lime.

MIX well.

ADD ice and garnish with extra mint leaves.

Definitely check out the Pumpkin Mojito Bar post over at Hostess with the Mostess for more information and photos. It would be such a great idea to have a DIY Pumpkin Mojito Bar at a fresh sunny fall party.

And a little side note…do you like the scalloped-edge I made on the photo? I just got Photoshop and I’ve been spending a lot of time playing around and seeing what I can do with it. So far, this is as fancy as I’ve gotten. I’m pretty proud of my handiwork though.

Enjoy your cocktail!

Credit: Photo via Hostess with the Mostess. Recipe adapted from Hostess with the Mostess. Scalloped-edge photo editing by me using Photoshop.

Pink Meringue Cookies

2010-10-27T17:16:00.001-07:00

This little recipe is for some adorable Pink Meringue Cookies. It’s my aunt’s recipe and makes for some delicious and pretty pastel cookies.

Pink Meringue Cookies

3 Egg Whites
1/8 teaspoon Salt
3/4 cup Sugar
3 1/2 tablespoons Raspberry Gelatin
1 cup Mini Chocolate Chips
1 teaspoon Vinegar
a Brown Paper Bag

BEAT egg whites and salt until foamy.

Slowly ADD sugar and gelatin (you can use another flavor is you have a preference other than raspberry). BEAT until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved.

ADD chocolate chips and vinegar. FOLD with a rubber spatula until vinegar is thoroughly mixed in and chocolate chips are evenly dispersed.

DROP by the teaspoonful onto a cookie sheet covered with a brown paper bag. I just cut up a paper grocery bag, or you could also use a silicone baking mat.

BAKE for 25 minutes at 250 degrees.

Then turn OFF oven and leave cookies in for another 20 minutes.

I had a one leftover egg white from another recipe, so I decided to make a tiny batch of these meringues. But because I had only one egg white I wanted to use, that meant modifying the recipe and only making a small batch of 8 cookies.

The original recipe (using quantities above) makes 3 dozen meringue cookies.

Enjoy! And please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe.

Credit: This is my aunt’s delicious Pink Meringue Cookies recipe. All photos taken by me. The pictured Pink Meringue Cookies were baked by me as well.

Completed Stuffed Goldfish Barrette

2010-10-27T13:55:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I posted about a Stuffed Goldfish Barrette I was working on (you can see that post here). It’s stuffed with fiberfill and I added some white iridescent bugle beads to the barrette base for a little sparkle.

Today I finished making the Stuffed Goldfish Barrette with assistance of my friend Jessica who suggested the base color of blue (like water). Thank you Jessica! I really appreciate your input and I think blue was a great choice with the bright orange goldfish.

The little fishy barrette turned out really sweet. I hope you guys like it!

Once I get this Stuffed Goldfish Barrette packaged nicely, I’ll be adding it to my Etsy shop. I’ll let you know with another post when that happens.

Credit: Photo taken by me. Photo editing by me using Photoshop. Felt goldfish sewn by me as well.

{Roundup}: Apples

2010-10-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

There are apples on today’s menu for the roundup. What goes better with chilly fall weather better than apple cider and caramel apples (other than pumpkins that is)? Enjoy these cute apple items found on Etsy!

Credit: (1) Scented Plush Red Apples by lapomme, (2) Artificial Evergreen Wreath with Lemons and Green Apples by April Hiler Designs, (3) Custom Made Children’s Pillowcase Dress by Aquamars Boutique, (4) Brass Apple Locket Necklace by Rhondas Treasures, (5) Candy Caramel Apple Flavored Lip Balm by Howards Home, (6) Red Apple Tea Set by Studio Elan, (7) Sweet Pea Apple a Day Hat in Candy Apple Red by Sweet Pea Pods, (8) Mini Window Wall Hanging Quilt by olive tree textiles, (9) Natural Wooden Teething Toy by the bitsy bean.

Stuffed Goldfish Barrette

2010-10-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

Today I spent some time working on another felt barrette. This time I’m making a goldfish that’s stuffed with fiberfill and complete with googly eyes.

I still have some work to do. While I finished the goldfish, I still need to sew some felt around the barrette and attach it to the little fishy.

Once again, I’m throwing a question out to you guys…any ideas on what color I should go with for the barrette base? So far I’ve gotten two great suggestions: (1) green like seaweed and (2) blue like water. Both ideas are great, but I think I’m gravitating toward blue because I think it will look nice with the orange and I can add some of my white iridescent bugle beads to the base for a little sparkle (a la bubbles).

What do you think? Is blue the way to go? What do you think about adding a little bling with bugle beads on the base? Is it going too far? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Credit: Photo taken by me. Photo editing by me using Photoshop. Felt goldfish sewn by me as well.

Completed Stuffed Cupcake Barrette

2010-10-26T16:10:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I posted about a Stuffed Cupcake Barrette I was working on (you can see that post here). It’s stuffed with fiberfill and sprinkled with some white iridescent bugle beads.

Today I finished making the Stuffed Cupcake Barrette with assistance of some wonderful helpers who suggested the base color of brown. Thank you to my helpers! I really appreciate your input.

I think the barrette turned out really cute! It really exceeded my expectations. And love how the brown looks with the pink and blue cupcake. What do you think?

Once I get this Stuffed Cupcake Barrette packaged nicely, I’ll be adding it to my Etsy shop. I’ll let you know with another post when that happens.

Credit: Photo taken by me. Photo editing by me using Photoshop. Felt cupcake sewn by me as well.

If only I had all the money in the world…

2010-10-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some lovely things I have seen lately.

This mug isn’t just adorable, it plays double-duty too. While you enjoy your coffee or tea, the stackable mini dish “lid” is removable and becomes a saucer for little treats. I used Google translate to translate the saying as, “You can come whenever you want.” But the more correct French translation is, “You’re welcome anytime.”

{“Cheri” Shinzi Katoh Cafe Mug from My Sweet Muffin}

Oh the details! I just love this bride’s super cute red nail polish with sweet little white polka dots.

{Red nails with white polka dots via Green Wedding Shoes}

Everything in Edor’s Etsy shop is simple and gorgeous. I dare you to check out the shop and not find something you love.

{Necklace by Edor via dujour}

Acid wash jeans? No way! Acid wash purse? Yes please! I just love this beautiful and unique purse. I’ve never seen anything like it before, and I’m in love.

{a.ok acid white handbag available at oak}

I’ve been needing a jewelry stand to organize my jewelry collection for a long time now. I don’t think I could ever find one with more places to stash my earrings and hang my necklaces and bracelets, than this one. And to top it off, it is a lovely shade of blue and it SPINS!

{Spinning Birdcage Jewelry Stand from Urban Outfitters}

Credit: Google translate, My Sweet Muffin, Green Wedding Shoes, Etsy, Edor via dujour, oak, and Urban Outfitters.

Stuffed Cupcake Barrette

2010-10-25T19:54:00.001-07:00

Today I spent some time working on a felt cupcake barrette. It’s stuffed with fiberfill and sprinkled with some white iridescent bugle beads.

I still have some work to do. While I finished the cupcake, I still need to sew some felt around the barrette and attach it to the little cupcake.

Any ideas on what color I should do for the barrette base? I was thinking hot pink, but I have white, black, a few shades of blue, a few shades of purple, orange, yellow, brown, and red. See this post and this post for more colors. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Credit: Photo taken by me. Photo editing by me using Photoshop. Felt cupcake sewn by me as well.

Crushin’ On Color: Purple

2010-10-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

This beautiful vibrant purple paint, really makes the store pop.

Credit: Photography by The Gaupers via Rock N’ Roll Bride

Weekend {Roundup}: Black and White Stripes

2010-10-24T05:30:00.000-07:00

I have a slight problem. I seem to be addicted to black and white stripes.

Credit: (1) Fonda Striped Pea Coat by BB Dakota via Nasty Gal, (2) Divine Twine via Bake It Pretty, (3) Vertical striped bathroom via 6th Street Design School, (4) Dr. Hunt Floor Lamp by Stray Dog Designs via happy chickadee, (5) Oh Barnacles! Dress via spotted moth, (6) Atlanta home of stylist and producer Annette Joseph via Design*Sponge, (7) Christian Louboutin Greissimo Peep-Toes, (8) Ottomans at Inspirador via Elizabeth Anne Designs, (9) BB Dakota Striped Tunic via south moon under

Blue Valentine

2010-10-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

I really really really want to see this movie. I looks really good...plus it doesn't hurt that Ryan Gosling is in it. I can't think of one single bad movie that he has made.

Starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. According to imdb, the movie is a look at the idyllic past and troubled present of working-class couple Dean (Gosling) and Cindy (Williams). The film centers on a contemporary married couple, charting their evolution over a span of years by cross-cutting between time periods. USA release date is December 31, 2010 (limited).

And a few fun facts…

The screenplay won the 2006 Chrysler Film Project contest. The prize was $1 million of funding, courtesy of the Chrysler Brand and production company Silverwood Films.

The film was originally set to shoot in spring of 2008, but was delayed due to Heath Ledger's death. The producers and director delayed the film out of respect for Michelle Williams, Ledger's ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter Matilda, rather than going ahead and shooting the film with another actress in Michelle's role.

You can follow this link to the trailer video as well.

Credit: imdb.com

What I’m Working On…

2010-10-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

With the weather the way it’s been all week, it’s been hard to be motivated. This is what we’ve been working with weather-wise here.

Isn’t it depressing weather? Just miserable. Needless to say, I haven’t been up to much of anything productive this week…so there’s not much to report.

One thing we did do was pick out and order our snowboarding helmets for the upcoming winter season (and our upcoming trip to Vail!). Since we are progressing and venturing off the bunny hill, a helmet is now a necessity.

My love picked out a black Shaun White RED Hi-Fi Helmet. He figured that, if it’s good enough for the pros, it’s good enough for him. I went with a white Smith Maze Helmet. My choice was mostly based on all the positive reviews that I read.

The helmets arrived the other day, and Madison was none-to-happy that I used her as a model for her daddy’s helmet.

Do you remember the storage containers I mentioned last week? Well, I finally got organized with my art supplies and filled the container that I decided would work best for me. And oh man! Does this baby hold A LOT of my stuff! I’m so glad I picked this one up at Michaels because it is going to do wonders for me.

Just look how much it fits…

If you like it, I got mine from Michaels.

Credit: Burton Shaun White RED Hi-Fi helmet from dogfunk.com. Smith Optics helmet also from dogfunk.com. Everything Mary storage container found at Michaels.

Easy 5 Minute Chocolate Cake in a Mug

2010-10-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

5 Minute Chocolate Cake in a Mug

4 tablespoons Flour
4 tablespoons Sugar
2 tablespoons Cocoa Powder
1 Egg
3 tablespoons Milk
3 tablespoons Oil
3 tablespoons Chocolate Chips (optional)
small splash of Vanilla Extract
1 large Coffee Mug (microwave safe)

ADD flour, sugar, and cocoa powder into a mug and MIX well. I recommend using a larger size mug than standard size.

ADD the egg and MIX thoroughly.

POUR in the milk and oil and MIX well.

ADD the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract and MIX again.

Put the mug in the microwave and COOK for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow to COOL a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT!

This recipe can serve 1 or 2 people from one mug cake. But, since it is baked in your own personal mug, why not eat it all yourself? Beware that this is the most dangerous cake recipe in the world, because it puts you only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake no matter what time of day or night!

While this may not be the best chocolate cake I have ever eaten (tastes like the ones in frozen meals), it is a decent option when you are in emergency need for a chocolate fix. And it is a quick fix too since it only takes 3 minutes in the microwave (plus 2 minutes for prep).

Hope this easy microwave cake helps you get your weekend off to a good start!

Credit: All photos taken by me. Cake pictured “baked” by me. Recipe adapted from an unknown source.

Dean Fleischer-Camp - “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On”

2010-10-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the cuteness that is “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” by Dean Fleischer-Camp? Seriously, who knew a shell with one eye and pink shoes could be so freaking adorable?

Check it out for yourself, if you haven’t already. And it you already have, then check it out again. :)

Happy Friday everyone!

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

Credit: “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” by Dean Fleischer-Camp

Ode to Inspiration

2010-10-22T05:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Here’s a little dose of inspiration to start the weekend…

Credit: Newly renovated O.C. Tanner building in Salt Lake via 6th street design school

Credit: Car decorated with sprinkles at Cupcakery via The Cupcake Activist

Credit: Name bikes by Juri Zaech via Renegade Handmade

Credit: Marimekko shop inside Crate & Barrel via Racked NY

Credit: Shark made out of denim at Barneys Co-op via Racked NY

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-10-21T18:45:00.001-07:00

I made these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies in anticipation of the houseguests we had at the beginning of October. It was nice to finally have someone else in the house eating the goodies I baked, instead of just me alone. The batch I made lasted pretty much their entire visit, and were a nice and easy snack to pack along during our sight-seeing and trips to the beach.

I’ve had this recipe in my recipe book for a long time (as you can probably tell from the photo). I’ve been thinking I’ve been making my aunt’s delicious cookie recipe for the last few years, but have come to find out though, that I haven’t. That recipe, was a little farther back in my cookbook. It’s a similar recipe, but uses shortening instead of butter and slightly different quantities of a lot of the ingredients.

Oh well, these cookies are still very yummy and I’m going to share the recipe with you.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 cup Sugar
3/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 large Eggs
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
2 1/4 cups Flour
2 cups (12 oz.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
3 cups Oatmeal

CREAM the sugars and butter.

ADD the vanilla extract and eggs. MIX.

Slowly ADD in the baking soda, salt, and flour. MIX.

STIR in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and oatmeal by hand with a spoon. I like to use mini chocolate chips because I prefer that to big chunks of chocolate in my cookies. But that’s a matter of personal taste.

ROLL cookie dough into balls and PLACE on a cookie sheet. You can lightly grease your cookie sheet or use a silicone baking mat like me.

BAKE at 375 degrees for approximately 8 minutes.

Enjoy!

Credit: All photos taken my me. Recipe from my own personal book of recipes.

Adorable Stop Motion Wedding Invitation - “a slice of invite”

2010-10-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

I just love stop motion videos…and I just love wedding invitations. So what could be better than an adorable stop motion wedding invitation?

The other day I stumbled upon the sweet and oh-so creative wedding invitation of Jodi and Kurt (of Jodi Miller Photography) entitled “a slice of invite,” and it has had me enamored ever since. Take a look-see and I bet you fall in love with this couple and their creativity too.

a slice of invite from Jodi Miller on Vimeo.

Credit: “a slice of invite” by Jodi and Kurt (of Jodi Miller Photography) found via Junebug Weddings

Thirsty Thursday…Black Widow Martini

2010-10-21T05:30:00.000-07:00

Last week I did a Halloween cocktail, and this Thursday I thought I’d do yet another. While last week’s Jack-0′-Lantern Cocktail was a little more cute and sweet, but today’s cocktail is more dark and scary. I can just picture Elvira carrying around one of these babies at a party.

Black Widow Martini

2 oz. black vodka (Blavod: here and here, Absolut 100: here and here)
1/2 oz. Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur
2 oz. blackberry or grape juice
black licorice and sugar for garnish (optional)

COMBINE all ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker.

SHAKE well and STRAIN into a sugar-rimmed martini glass.

GARNISH with black licorice.

Yum!

I found this great drink on Hostess with the Mostess where they creatively decorated the stem of their martini glasses with plastic spider rings. Great idea huh? If you check out this link to their post, you’ll find another alcoholic Halloween recipe for Screwed-up Shooters also using black vodka. Also, black spider rings can be found via Amazon.

Today I also stumbled upon the cutest (well, that might not be the best word) vampire-inspired caramel apples on Home Made Simple. It’s a pretty simply concept that would make for some really great Halloween party snacks. Just dip your apple in melted caramel, then some white chocolate, stab with a two-pronged fork for teeth imprints, follow with some red icing drips…and wha-la!

And you could make similar spooky vampire desserts with a little imagination. Imagine cupcakes frosted white with twp red icing drips or cake pops dipped in white chocolate with red icing drips.

Credit: Cocktail recipe adapted from Hostess with the Mostess. Blavod black vodka and Absolut 100 black vodka. Black spider rings can be found via Amazon. Scary vampire caramel apples via Home Made Simple.

Mom’s Toffee Bars

2010-10-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

Here’s a recipe for Toffee Bars that my mom makes. It’s a pretty easy recipe with simple ingredients, so give it a try!

Ingredients:

1 cup Butter
1 cup packed Brown Sugar
1 Egg Yolk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1/4 teaspoon Salt
2 cups Flour
6 Hershey bars

CREAM the butter and brown sugar. ADD egg yolk and vanilla. MIX in salt and flour.

SPREAD toffee bar dough onto a sheet pan. I lightly greased mine with a little butter cooking spray. Be sure to spread dough completely to all sheet pan edges.

BAKE at 350 degrees for 20 minutes (after 12 minutes I take the toffee bars out of the oven and cover the edges with foil to prevent burnt edges, and then put them back in the oven for the remaining 8 minutes). Baked toffee bars should be lightly browned when pulled from the oven.

TOP hot-from-the-oven toffee bars with bars of chocolate (6 Hershey bars will easily cover the toffee bars with a nice layer of chocolate, but in this case I used only 4 and it was plenty of enough chocolate to cover). Let the chocolate bars sit for just a few minutes to allow them to SOFTEN to a spreadable form. SPREAD melted chocolate with a knife to cover the toffee bars.

Set aside and allow chocolate to SET. It helps to throw the bars in the refrigerator to assist and speed-up the setting process.

Once set, CUT the toffee bars into squares.

Enjoy!

In my opinion, these bars are more a toffee shortbread consistency than a toffee-toffee. But they are super yummy and easy to make cookies that I recommend you give a try.

For fun with kids, you could even decorate the top with sprinkles and candies and things (before the warm chocolate sets of course).

UPDATE: The sheet pan I use for this recipe is approximately 10 1/2 x 15.

Credit: Recipe from my mom. All photos taken by me. Toffee bars pictured were baked by me as well.