Hair of the Moment: Decisions, Decisions...

I am quite smitten with the top middle,

but I think I am going with the top right.

Someday I'll get brave and go platinum blonde;

for now it will just be quicker to stay red!

Hair: Decisions, Decisions... by wanderlustre on polyvore.com

Hike+Wine=Wike

We call ourselves Wikers, and we have a group.

Will Hike for Wine.

I can tell you're interested.

Wanderlust: San Diego

In just twelve short days, the "Fi" and I will be
traveling to sunny San Diego...eep!

In honor of that little miracle, I have been
partaking in a few "pre-travel kait" past times.

Planning our travel itinerary.

Yes, folks I am that ocd.

The very first keystrokes to grace my address bar

always being Design Sponge for Grace's fabulous city guides.

 Carry-On Coveting.

My favorite "gawk-stop" being Remixed Vintage over at etsy.

Sale Stalking.

LuLu*s, Urban Outfitters, Urban Outfitters

 
 
 


Globe Oogling.

Pinterest - The Lovely Nomad

Getting Map Happy.

Pinterest, Design Sponge, These Are Things

Travel gives me hope.

Three Little Words

Three Little Words by wanderlustre

Tote hand bag
$28 - fredflare.com

Remodelista: Sourcebook for the Considered Home
remodelista.com

kreyv: Memories of Wrought Iron
tocrave.blogspot.com

Knit Wit

Somehow my quick trip to JoAnn's
on Saturday took an unexpected turn.

I went in for jewelry making supplies, but they didn't
have exactly what I was looking for to attempt
 this great tutorial from Rebekah over at A Bit of Sunshine.

However, I did return home with an armful of these lovelies.

Behold the power of cute packaging. *sigh*

Never discount the influence that a sticky sweet name will extert.

You even utter the word honeycomb, and I am sold.

Of course, someone was quite jealous.

Swarley will just have to deal.

Yes, I give my pets hard-to-recall names like Swarley.

Named after this obscure HIMYM episode.

Go watch it people!
You won't be sad that you did.

And don't forget to drop by for progress updates ;D

Outfits are for Outings: "You don't say."

This past weekend marked the

Annual Stonington Vineyards Wine Festival

Try the Seaport White!

If your household is anything like ours,

getting dressed for any anticipated event

goes something like this:

BOY: Are you almost ready to go, or what?

GIRL: I've got nothing to wear!

BOY: You have more clothes than

Alicia Silverstone did in Clueless.

GIRL: You don't say.

BOY: I do say.

GIRL: Ok, then. You find something!

Drumroll, please. Dun dun dun.
I give you the "boy-selected" outfit.

Sweater and Skinny Jeans: New York and Company

3/4 Sleeve Shirt: The Limited

Boots: Thrifted, Banana Republic c/o Buffalo Exchange

Lit Bit: Jane Austen

I have been utterly consumed by Pride and Prejudice this week,
but more to the point...

the fiancé and I dash over to the mall yesterday after work to

pick up something quick that I have been running desperately low on...

...out-of-the-blue he leans in close to tell me that, although he is quite hungry and doesn't by any means wish to prolong our shopping exploits, he would feel rather guilty not to mention that the new Anthropologie store I have been anxiously awaiting the November opening of (thanks for the misinformation WHN) seems to be prematurely resplendant in all of its open for business glory!

And get this...while floating over shoulder, as any better half would do for the one he loves in an all too uncomfortable so girly you can taste the glitz retail establishment, he waves this bit of lovely in my general direction and says, "I bet you wish you had this copy instead." Allow me to illustrate--the book I was carrying with me at the time vs. the book I was coveting in that moment:

My response being something along the lines of: 

"omigoshcoraliebickfordsmith!"

Does he know me, or does he know me.

In the Kitsch: Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Kitschy Kitchen by wanderlustre on Polyvore.com

1. Assorted Pastel Colors Baking Cups - Wilton
$1.99 - wilton.com

2. today i will be happier than a bird with a french fry
Studio Mela (dazeychic) via Etsy.com

3. Russian Doll Measuring Cup Set | PLASTICLAND
$15 - shopplasticland.com

4. Red & White Polka Dot Josephine Apron • Jessie Steele
$33 - jessiesteele.com

5. M-SPOONS - Matryoshka Measuring Spoons
$6.99 - perpetualkid.com

6. Red & White Polka Dot Oven-Mitt with Bow • Jessie Steele
$13 - jessiesteele.com

7. 2-Piece Mini Cupcake Spatula-Spoon Set
$7.95 - crateandbarrel.com

 I love spending time in the kitchen,

and try to fill mine with warm and inspiring items.

Today, I want to share this recipe for Cookie Dough Cupcakes. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes
with Cookie Dough Buttercream Frosting

For the cookie dough:
2 sticks softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
4 tbsp milk
1 tbsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips

For the cupcakes:
3 sticks softened butter
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
2 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract

For the frosting:
3 sticks softened butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

To make the cookie dough, combine the butter and sugars in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 mins. Beat in milk and vanilla until incorporated and smooth. Beat in the flour and salt until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Using a 1.5 tbsp scoop, shape the dough into balls or tubes. Freeze on a parchment lined baking sheet overnight.

To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line two cupcake pans with paper liners (24 total).  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and brown sugar.  Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.  Stir together to blend.  Add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl on low speed, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing each addition just until incorporated.  Blend in the vanilla.

Using a 3 tbsp scoop, fill the prepared cupcake liners 2/3 full with the cupcake batter.

Place a frozen cookie dough ball on the top center of each cupcake.

Bake at 350 degrees for 18 mins.

You may want to use Jumbo cupcake liners for this recipe. With standard liners, I had a generous amount of leftover batter. Also, the cupcake portion did not rise enough to cover the sizeable cookie dough center. Fine by me, the more cookie dough the merrier! I was even left with a slightly pitted cupcake, which allowed the frosting to recede into the middle. If you ask me, this only enhanced the presentation.

Remove your cupcakes from the oven. Jump up and down a bit because they are culinary perfection.

When you are finished taking in the pleasant aroma, use a mini baking spatula to free your cupcakes from the pan. Allow to cool completely (overnight if desired) on a wire baking rack.

In the interest of conservation, I made some minis with my leftover batter! Aren't they adorable?

Mama cupcakes and baby cuppycakes.

Inside Out Bowl: Anthropologie

To make the frosting, combine the butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.  Beat in the powdered sugar until smooth.  Beat in the salt, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.

Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips!

Makes 24 cupcakes.

Enjoy!

Outfits are for Outings: Sept. 17th

Saturday was my little brother's birthday party. 

He is turning 9 years old next week, but we celebrated a bit early.

 Any excuse to put on your party dress and eat cake, right? 

In case you are wondering, there  are sixteen years between us!

I'm turning 25 this November.

Sweater: Cable and Gauge

Dress: Anthropologie

Tights: Betsey Johnson (2-Pack)

Boots: Banana Republic, Thrifted

(Buffalo Exchange--Brooklyn, NY)

By the way, do yourself a favor and make this

Apple Spice Cake from Martha Stewart.

My cousin found this recipe the morning of the party.

Just by going to google.

And. It. Was. There.are.no.words.

Apple Spice Cake

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 3 to 4 Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (3 cups)
• 1 cup chopped assorted nuts, such as pecans and walnuts (optional)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Nonstick cooking spray with flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray; set aside.
2. Working over a large sheet of parchment paper, sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; gather sifted ingredients into center of sheet; set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine vegetable oil, sugar, and eggs; mix on high speed until lemon yellow.
4. Fold reserved parchment in half lengthwise; with mixer on medium speed, gradually shake in dry ingredients until just incorporated.
5. Add apples and, if desired, nuts, to batter; mix to combine. Add vanilla, mixing until incorporated.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 75 to 90 minutes.
7. Remove from oven, and cool slightly on a wire rack.