In the Kitchen: Homemade Milano mint cookies

So I made these little chocolate-minty guys the other day. Frankly, I didn't like the recipe I followed for the shortbread cookie that much. Regardless, all together they tasted delicious, but I'll wait until I try again and find a better recipe to share it with you all. It also would have helped if I had a cookie cutter for them, rather than having all these mismatching little squares due to my cutting inadequacy, but that's a whole other story.

 

Have a lovely weekend! ♥

Abstract love

I took pictures other than these two, but of course, they somehow vanished from my camera. That's okay though since it leaves me with less editing and more time to focus on the paper I have due. The same paper that my professor insists that I nearly redo because he knows I can take it into a very interesting direction.

In the meantime though, oh you distractions, you always know how to get to me.

There was so much more to this outfit, including my black boots and leather jacket that were shown in some other shots that seem to have misplaced themselves. But I suppose that leaves all the attention to this pretty little thing I picked up at a thrift store for literally a couple dollars. I was happy to finally be able to wear it after hemming it as the original length really made it a bit too old lady-ish for my liking. I just love the color and abstract pattern that is plenty needed in my closet that has become overwhelmed with black and an assortment of all things striped.

Half way through the week- happy Wednesday, dolls! ♥

Turn up the Tunes Tuesday

Lost in my Mind- The Head and the Heart
  Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes

Sun Of a Gun- Oh Land

Lo-Fi-Fnk- The City Teenagers Remix

Run the Heart- Sleigh Bells

E.T.- Katy Perry

Make You Feel that Way- Blackalicious 

What tunes are you stuck on this week? ♥

Outfit Favorites & Inspiration

Le blog de Sushi,  Sincerely, Jules, Concept of Infinity, Snow Black, Summer Listen, Zipped, Helmi Otsalla

Layering a button up under a dress like this is just one of those ideas I wish I would have thought of. 

Inspiration posts like these also make me realize all the necessities that my closet is currently missing: a denim, jacket, a floppy hat, a graphic blazer, and more maxi skirts. Most definitely the case.

Have a wonderful Monday, dolls! ♥

Adventures in L.A.

This past Saturday was tons of fun, no exaggerating. It was my first time really getting to experience LA even though it's only about an hour drive from where I live. I've done Hollywood, but just the touristy aspect of it, so this was spectacular. My friend Cynthia and I headed down to Venice Beach first, which is where I found some insanely amazing extra long feather earrings that I am madly in love with! Also ran into plenty of creepers, but the overall atmosphere was just superbly chill. From there we made quite a walk down to the Santa Monica Pier which was lovely. Everything I expected it to be, so vibrant.

After strolling about for some hours, we headed to a completely different part of LA, West Hollywood where we met up with her uncle and his boyfriend, who, by the way, are two of the loveliest people I have ever met! They took us out to dinner at this wonderful little place called Mexico City near Griffith Park. I just loved the general vibe to the place! Plus, Eduardo Xol from Extreme Makeover Home Edition was also dining there, though they said that they had actually met Drew Barrymore a couple times there as well.

The rest was basically taking in the nightlife of West Hollywood, walking by The Abbey and other bars and such around there. 

It truly was tons of fun and in great company! I unfortunately didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked, and the larger majority were taken with my film cameras. (Yes, I was lugging around three cameras in my Mary Poppins bag. ) So hopefully when I get those developed I'll have a bit more to share!

How has everyone else's weekends been? ♥

Change of thought

 

You know my previous mini-rants about how I love colder days and warm knits and such? Today made me realize I'm a bit over that and quite ready for Spring. Though I did slip on a set of sheer black tights, I felt like the rest of my look was very Spring-ish. "Spring-ish." What am I thinking? 

(denim shirt- thrifted, skirt- gift, bow- self-made)

The lace bow I'm wearing in my hair is indeed self-made. Actually one of things I will be putting up in my soon-to-come (I know how many times I've said this already, it's awful) Etsy shop, so give me a heads up on what you think! I just need to get around to getting pictures of everything and posting my listings.

The suitcase is just a fun vintage find I picked up at a flea market in Irvine about a couple months ago for $6. It's really too cute, though my mother actually called it my runaway bag. In that case, I would surely be making a getaway with style!

I'm honestly really excited for this weekend! I'll make sure to tell you dolls all about it. 

Have yourselves a fantastic weekend as well! ♥

currently listening to: i was made for you- she & him

Day of Silence, for Japan with love

In the Kitchen: Peanut butter cup- stuffed chocolate chip cookies

I don't know if it's just me, but that title left me out of breath. Probably means I should be out running instead of stuffing my face with stuffed cookies. 

Honestly though, this isn't much more than another chocolate chip cookie recipe, but I will tell you- this is one of the best recipes I have come across. By best, I mean near perfect! The cookie ends up with a bit of the best of both worlds with a crisp outside and chewy inside. Definitely my go-to every time.

By the way, I'll admit, I was cheap. I didn't buy the name brand Reese's peanut butter cups. So sue me. I was not about to spend a fortune on the candies alone, especially when I found a smaller, generic brand, variation of them in packs of 8 for a dollar. Or, you know, you could spend the money and remind each person while they're eating them how expensive of a cookie they're eating. That's always fun.

Peanut butter cup- stuffed chocolate chip cookies:

Print this Recipe

Ingredients

yields about 14 cookies

• 1 stick of butter softened
• 1 cup of white sugar
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons hot water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8oz chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup sugar
•  about 14 peanut butter cups

Cooking Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Prepare cookie sheets with foil.

Cream together the softened butter and white and brown sugar together until smooth in large bowl.

Beat in the eggs one at a time.

Stir in vanilla.

Dissolve baking soda in hot water, then add to the batter with the salt.

Stir in flour and chocolate chips.

On foil lined cookie sheets,

Using about 1 1/2 tablespoon amounts of dough, surround the peanut butter cup on either side, one on each and basically mash the cookie dough around it. Make sure the peanut butter cup does not show. Now, this is just a basis of about how much would be needed to cover the peanut butter cup, but you can add more dough if you like and have a colossal cookie so that it will take a bit more time to reach the center treasure.
(This is evidently what I did with the one pictured. So so good!)

Place into the oven and bake for about 16 minutes or until edges are browned.

*There are so many variations of this cookie you can get creative with. Swap peanut butter cups for oreos, nutter butters, or my personal favorite idea, thin mints!

Have fun and enjoy! ♥

Fluer excess

(blouse- alloy, boater hat- gift from friend during their trip to Thailand)

 Distractions have been blinding me recently. By impulse today, I stood at the furthest end of the room, pushing away the pale pink sheer curtains overlaying the window. A gaze at a stand still. There is nothing new. The same street. The same row of monotonous houses, paces between, though interaction low in existence. No people to watch, and even if there were so, they have become just as monotonous as these places they reside in. Rummaging for their keys, rushing to their cars, that's all they ever do here. Oh, the dear child who must be raised amongst such arid thoughts, overwrought with realism, 1-2-3 canvases, never to be complacent, because everything here is so sure of itself. An untarnished sense of wonder in youth, now diminished. The shame in such. What has become of the life in this "life?"

And then I catch a daisy in my visual grasp, petals aflutter in the light breeze. Simple in its shade of ivory. Beautiful. Pollen promiscuously intermingled with the air with which it takes flight. It is only then that I feel assured.

Turn up the Tunes Tuesday

First Day Of My Life- Bright Eyes 

  Sorrow- The National

  Floating Vibes- Surfer Blood

Pancakes for One- Of Montreal 

Dirty Laundry- Bitter:Sweet

Paris is Burning- Ladyhawke

  Morning Thought- Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

Pursuit of Happiness [Steve Aoki remix]- Kid Cudi

What do you have on replay this week? ♥

image via flickr

Outfit Favorites & Inspiration

Avant Style, Louder than Silence, Agnes Blanche, Haiku Ambulance, Canned Fashion, Fashion Zen

Too much to love this week, from the lace, the ties, the floral headpieces or that in-cre-dible sweater and elephant necklace combo from Natalie of Canned Fashion! Hope you all enjoy too and have as good a Monday as possible. ♥

Castles made of sand

 Hendrix inspired anything is amazing.  This editorial just embodied so much of that same free-spirited appeal that always backed Hendrix's character. It's a beautiful thing to see such a legend live on in so many ways, whether it be in the world of fashion or his music, but always his spirit and soul.

On a side note, floppy hats and feathers. Definitely feeling it.

currently listening to: castles made of sand- jimi hendrix

images via The Ones 2 Watch

Guest posting it

While the lovely Jen from jennifhsieh is away for Spring break, I am covering for her for a day.

Check out the post here. 

Hope your weekends are all going fantastic! ♥

Reckless.

I've been feeling fairly boyish recently. Or possibly just been raising havoc in a more nonchalant way of dress than usual. Either way, cut up band t's and skinnies with my olive green pixie boots are definitely something well within my comfort zone. I suppose another reason for my swap from skirt and dresses to jeans is that my legs have become filled with quite a few awful bruises! Having been playing basketball and soccer a lot recently, this is expected of course. It's just so fun to be active again doing these sorts of things, it's worth the bruises! (Possibly not worth the loss of a few brain cells though after I got hit in the head with the ball just yesterday in the middle of soccer.)

I feel like I've been wearing this jacket far too much, but it just seems to top off so many outfits infinitely well. It's become my easy way out of what would normally be a much duller outfit. I love it!

 I really do need a camera. This webcam business blows. In the meantime, making gifs has become my time waster. Though I do like how this one came out, it's sort of eerie, isn't it?

currently listening to: flash and crash- rocky and the riddlers

Turn up the Tunes Tuesday

  Keep on Running- Robert Francis 

Blindsided- Bon Iver

VCR- The xx

Cassius- Foals

Two Recievers- Klaxons

Mornin'- Star Slinger

Words I Never Said- Lupe Fiasco

Owl Said- Cohen

Free Download: Owl Said by Cohen

What do you have on repeat this week, dolls? ♥

Outfit Favorites & Inspiration

AU locution, Stockholm Streestyle, Street and City Photos, Stylorectic, Buffalo Stance, Stolen From Grandma

Have a wonderful Monday,  lovelies! ♥

despising life is so passé now on FB

I've been contemplating this, but now it's good and done. Despising life is so passé is now on facebook. Also, feel free to add me as a friend. Let's be friends. ♥

Feathered Enchantment: Pixie Glamour

When I crossed paths with this Etsy shop, I couldn't help but feel enchanted myself by the near mystical beauty of these gorgeous pieces. Rachel, the creator of all these wonderful handmade assortments of color and feathers of variation so uniquely combined has truly managed to make what is commonly called an accessory into a masterpiece. Having been on the search for a pair of extra long feather earrings myself, I can't say I've spotted a single set quite as lovely as Pixie Glamour's. 

Along with earrings, there is also quite a selection of other headpieces that draw along the same lines as far as unique beauty that will leave anyone in aw. Anything from this shop is truly a treasure of enchantment.