4.29.2011

Friday Favorites!

Ah yes, Friday, we meet again!
What do you crazy kids have in store this weekend?
We're on the world tour this weekend - Seeing family, friends and this guy:


!! Can't wait !!
Whatever it is you're doing I hope you have FUN!
(I apologize for my lack of royal wedding related posts - I know everyone else in the US is obsessing...)

Here are the best of the (non-royal-wedding-related) best!



Are you dying? 
Found this gem on Etsy yesterday, and I am now building a bathroom around it.
Normal, right?




Go check out my friend Laura's excellent round-up of wedding bouquets
Speaking of weddings, MegMac offers cutom wedding monograms on Etsy...




In case you were questioning my love for Etsy, here's another.
















It'a a Puppy Party!
The houndstooth, the bow tie, I'm dead.




And of course, a little plop.


Have a great weekend!
SEE YOU MONDAY!








4.28.2011

Lyrics

I put some new music on my pizzle last night
and it got me thinking about songwriting.
(not thinking like I'm going to go write a song, just thinking about lyrics I like, duh.)

So in honor of my random thought process,
here are some pretty lyrics:


{Frank}



{Bruce}



{Coldplay}



{Ben}


{Taylor}






4.27.2011

Girly Gift Bags

As I mentioned in previous posts
this past weekend my girlfriends and I had a much needed
GIRLS TRIP!


Since I knew much of our time would be spent lounging around 
Maggie's adorable lakefront home,
I figured I would put together a little bag full of goodies for the girls
perfectly suited for being girly & cozy.

The components of the bag could easily be used for a spa party
or a bachelorette party, or even a sleepover party.

Here's how I did it.


First I started with all of this...
(mostly dollar section finds!)




I printed out some labels and adhered them to store bought gift bags
(also in the dollar section)




I found the coveted fuzzy socks for sale at Michael's 


and I rolled them up with cutsie ribbon - one for each bag!





Some lipgloss....



a mini-pedi set...



some lace panties...



Lavender lotion
(.75 cents in the travel section!)


a little fabulosity...




and of course, the good stuff!
(substitute wine for juice if it's a kids party)


Had to snazz them up a bit!



With a little sharpie and some rhinestones
 I monogrammed some plastic wine tumblers I found at Target,


and it all went into the bag which I finished off with some tissue
and these cute little initial tags I found
(in the dollar section)
at Michael's!


They were a big hit! 
AND SO EASY ON THE WALLET!!



How simple, huh?
Who knew how much great stuff you could find for a buck!?

Hope you enjoy!
Where else could you use a little gift bag like this?

4.26.2011

Lemon Pound Cake

With a White Chocolate Glaze


YUM-MEEE!
That's all there is to say about this recipe.
It's crisp, sweet, bold flavor is the perfect way to start your day or follow up a delish dinner.


Let's jump right in, shall we?

For INGREDIENTS you'll need:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
3/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan
3/8 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
Zest of 2 lemons, finely grated
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs

PREHEAT YOUR OVEN TO 350

Now, coat a 9x5 loaf pan with butter and then cover in flour.
Set that to the side while you sift the flour, salt, baking powder & baking soda in a bowl.


Once again, set that little concoction off to the side while you whip together the liquid components.
Your buttermilk, lemon zest & lemon juice go in even another bowl to be set aside
(As I'm typing this out it seems like a lot of clean up, but I don't remember it being too bad...)

Now, in the bowl of your stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until it's light & fluffy.
Add your eggs in one at a time, making sure to scrape the sides in between.

Okay, remember the bowl full of flour and the other bowl full of liquids? 
You're going to want to incorporate them alternately into the butter/sugar/egg combo you've got going on in your stand mixer.
It should look something like this when you're all done:


Now pour your batter into your prepared pan


and that sweet story goes into the oven for about 50 or 60 minutes.
(If your top starts browning before your center in cooked, throw a little tinfoil tent on there)

When you take it out, let it rest for about 10 minutes in the pan 


and then remove it and let it cool completely on a wire rack.

While thats cooling, you can work on your

Ingredients:
3/4 cup confectioners sugar
2 Tbs milk
2 1/2 oz white chocolate (melted and cooled)

Whisk together the sugar and milk until you get something resembling thin sour cream.
add the white chocolate and stir.
(If your mixture is too thick you can add milk & if it's too thin - add sugar)
Use the glaze immediately or else it will harden.

Just pour it over the top and let it naturally run off the sides.


I added a few lemons as a garnish


And there you have it.
HEAVEN IN LOAF FORM.

Do you think you'll try it?
You should.




4.25.2011

Currently Being Inspired By...

Royal Blue!
Unless you're living in a ditch, you have heard about the upcoming
nuptials of Prince William and Miss Kate Middleton.


If you're anything like my sister, you're OBSESSED.
Me on the other hand, I'm just slightly interested, but I do love that royal blue.
In honor of all the hoopla, I've found a few of my faves:


and it goes a little something like this:




A superb Etsy find.












These ladies have got that royal blue down pat!







A little snazz for your kitchen...





LOVE this ring!!








Some royal blue interiors. 
(Love the Sunflowers)











How about these royal blue weddings?
LOVELY.







Not even sure what I would do with this,
but I love the fabulosity of it.







And last but not least,








So what about you?
Do YOU have wedding fever?
Do you love the blue?