Saturday, October 30, 2010

Carmel Apple Making with Mom

I'm having a little Halloween Party at my apartment tonight, so my mom and I got to work in the kitchen last night and made some delicious carmel apples.  It was actually her idea, cause I had never done it before, but they came out really great.  Here are some pictures from our fun project!!


my mom being helpful!






Pictures of the Halloween Party to come tomorrow! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Wordly Wise


Modern Chic Home..Yes Indeed

So I was looking through the Blogs that I follow and came across Parlour's  blog about Modern Chic's Wall art.  Well, this immediately made me wanna look and I fell in love! Here are some of my favorites!


Craft Night

So last night, I was feeling extra crafty (Probably because I was procrastinating all of the important things that I had to do like laundry and cleaning my bathroom) so I stopped by Michaels and Beverly's on my way home from the gym.  I decided I was going to do the DIY article that I wrote about previously Fun and Easy Ways to Customize your Space... and create some memo boards for my new apartment.  I also had the bright idea that I could put fabric behind a picture frame, and then use the picture frame as a whiteboard using dry erase markers. I wanted make one for my room, so I bought a beautiful frame that was 40% at Michaels (I love sales) and a smaller one for my kitchen so that my roommate and I could leave each other notes haha. I also bought little pearl brads and some flat pins, and glued them together to make some really cute push pins for the boards.

So after an hour of blood, sweat and tears (minus the sweat and the tears) I finished all of my projects.  My roommate helped me hang up the bulletin board in our living room (which is still a work in progress, so please don't judge) and they look adorable. Here are some pictures of the finished products.  I took the pictures with my iphone today, so they aren't the best quality, but I wanted to share with all of you right away!




Monday, October 25, 2010

Vampire Halloween Cake Stencils

I just discovered Martha Stewart Crafts and fell in love! If anyone is looking for a cute idea for a Halloween inspired cake that doesn't involve TOO much work, check out these awesome stencils!

Halloween Fever

Every blog that I have been looking at lately has something to do with Halloween (Recipes, Crafts, Tablescapes, etc). But I guess it makes sense because the spooktacular holiday is just around the corner.  I am still trying to figure out what I can possibly come up with this year, even though my heart is just not that into it.  It's so hard coming from a time when there are so many parties and things to do that you have to actually go to multiple in one night, to begging people to do something.  But I guess its all a part of growing up! I do mis the times of staying in, watching scary movies, eating chili and cornbread (shout-out to the Peterson Family) and have a chilly and fun night in the comfort of your home. I guess I will just have to see what this year will bring.

But, here are some of my favorite Halloween goodies that I have seen this year. Enjoy!

Blood Red Punch


Directions at William-Sonoma

Perfect Endings Jack-O-Lantern Cake


Directions at William-Sonoma



Happy Halloween!!


Sunday, October 24, 2010

Four things...

Continuing 74 Lime Lane's fun little game...

Four things I always carry:
1. iPhone
2. Sunglasses
3. Wallet
4. Keys

Four things that are in my bedroom:
1. Art/Design Books
2. Photos
3. Lots and lots of clothes
4. Wii

Four things that I would like to do but haven't done yet:
1. Watch all of the the top 100 movies to see before you die
2. Start my own graphic design company
3. Go to Harry Potter Land
4. Been in Love

Four things that you don’t know about me:
1. I am horrible at math
2. Mustard GROSSES me out
3. I am very picky about the pens that I use (and very protective)
4. If I could eat one food before I die with would be the tower of onion rings from Red Robin

Four things I often wonder:
1. When will they stop making sequels and ruining movies?
2. When will all my east coast friends realize that they want to move to California?
3. How many licks DOES it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
4. Will they EVER spell my last name right?

Wordly Wise

ALWAYS REMEMBER

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Autumn Kiss

Saturday Night...


Can't wait for my friend Lindsey's Housewarming party tonight filled with good food, good wine and good friends! I feel like I'm finally beginning to have a life here in San Diego, and it feels great!


Thursday, October 21, 2010

Jooze

A new and creative idea for the juice box. Very creative and innovative!!

"Jooze is a fictional company that manufactures fresh fruit juices, catered especially to kindergarten and primary school students. It is a company that believes that healthy eating habits should begin at a very young age.

The shape of the logo is inspired by the shape of a sliced fruit, and the handwritten typeface used is to portray a sense of fun, hands-on personality and characteristic that appeals to kids and toddlers. The logo also consists of singular bright colours, which may vary depending on the flavour of the juice. This would hopefully be a recognisable icon whereby children can relate and connect to the brand.

A simplified illustration of the fruits are to further clarify the flavours, to add visual aesthetics, and to appeal and connect to the target audience.

The juice box is shaped in an unconventional way to incorporate the essence of the logo, to gain instant recognition from the audience, and to capture their attention, especially if this product is placed alongside other juices on the supermarket shelves." via packagingoftheworld.com


I want this!!

I would love the recipe box for my apartment from Anthropologie!

I am dying...

I guess it was just around the corner that people would start to take the "dress your pet" trend to the next level. But I must say, as much as I feel that it is totally wrong to put clothes on your pet, these chic coats for dogs are the most adorable things I have ever seen. If you can make a pug look "chic", you are doing something very, very right. Rover on Etsy might just be onto something... in the words of Rachel Zoe.. I DIE...

Here are some of my favorites...


Thanks onesydneyroad!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Chocolate Carrot Cake, I'm in Heaven

Yeah_cake

This recipe is definitely the best of both worlds! I looove carrot cake, which is not that common. With this chocolaty twist, I think Carrot Cake could become the cake everyone is talking about. Thanks papiervalise for the recipe! I can't wait to try it and tell you all how it is..

CHOCOLATE CARROT CAKE

For cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon each baking powder and baking soda
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
4 medium carrots, shredded (about 2 cups)

For cream cheese frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened (1 pkg)
¼ cup butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups confectioners’ or powdered sugar (icing sugar)

For chocolate glaze:
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 ounces fine-quality BITTERSWEET chocolate
(not unsweetened)
6 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup confectioners’ or powdered sugar

CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour a 9-10 inch bundt pan.

Into a bowl sift together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat together eggs and oil on low speed until combined well. Add flour mixture and beat until just combined. Stir in carrots and pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake cake in middle of oven approximately 50-65 minutes, or until tester comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a rack 10 minutes and invert onto rack to cool completely.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add vanilla and confectioners’ sugar and beat until light and creamy--I let it whip together for a minimum of 5 minutes. Frost cooled cake.

CHOCOLATE GLAZE:
In a small saucepan combine glaze ingredients and whisk together over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until chocolate is melted and glaze is smooth. Remove from heat and cool glaze slightly. Drizzle glaze over cream cheese layer and sides of cake and chill to set, a minimum of an hour.

{tidbits}

I use a bundt pan, as I like how you can see the different layers of cake, cream cheese + glaze when you slice the cake. You could also use round layer cake pans or even a 9 x 11 pan and adjust your baking times, checking your cake at the 45 minute mark.

If you don't have the different chocolates, use what you have. I used Callebaut bittersweet chocolate and milk chocolate chips for this years' cake.

Wordly Wise


"Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in your own sunshine" Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is something that I definitely need to think about much more often. Oh Ralph, you're so wise.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Love These...



and also this map of London in slate gray


I would put any/all of these up on my wall. The typography in them is so fresh and simple. Thanks madebygirl!

Also, thanks PuglyPixel for giving me the idea/means to create these super cute badges!