blogs we love

April 5, 2013

This should come as no surprise – we HEART blogs! So much of our inspiration comes from amazing bloggers – their original content and impeccable writing are immeasurable but their ability to be so real is what truly brings an audience. While it would be the longest post known to man to list all our favorites, we thought sharing a handful would be fun from time to time. We are starting with some fantastic goodies!blogswelove

  1. Love Taza – If you haven’t discovered them yet you will immediately fall head over heels for Taza and her adorable family. Lovely musings about living in NYC and raising a family. We are obsessed with the way they enjoy life together and are not caught up in being impossibly perfect. Her blog and their smiles bring a little sunshine with every post.
  2. Joy the Baker – Joy has a fun, retro feel to both her writing and her baking- both of which keep us coming back for more. To top it off, her blog is filled with lots of helpful baking tidbits!
  3. The Glamourai – Super stylish, super chic and super cute. Kelly has it all and then some. Normally we would be intimidated by someone with such a fabulous lifestyle but her writing and overall demeanor brings her right down to earth with the rest of us.
  4. The Wiegands – Casey writes about a lot of things- babies, faith, art, cooking and her take on life. Regardless of what she is writing about- its captivating from start to finish and so inspiring.
  5. Dear Baby – Melissa was pregnant with her second child when we were pregnant with our little girls (her son Arlo and Brandy J’s Jettie were born on the same day!). Her sharp maternity style is what first drew our attention but the creative and brilliant writing keep us coming back. She feels like an old friend who happens to have effortless style and a drop dead gorgeous family.
  6. Bakers Royale – One look at this page and our explanation is done. The drool-worthy images and eclectic flavor combinations had us at hello!
  7. Kendi Everyday – Oh Kendi, how we love you! Smart, witty and doesn’t take herself too seriously. In the world of everyday style bloggers Kendi makes you feel more welcome than “don’t you wish you were hot like me”. Don’t be fooled though, her fashion sense is keen and she makes it accessible for all.
  8. ohdeardrea – Drea and her sweet little Marlowe are constantly on the go- and Drea whips up some pretty impressive toddler meals. Her writing is raw and vulnerable, giving the reader real glimpses into their nontraditional lifestyle.

 

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spring resolutions

April 4, 2013

My house is rarely quiet. Between a shrieking toddler and my noisy mixer, the silence is far and between. Sometimes I think back to life before baby, life before my crazy business venture- those quiet days of living alone in my little one bedroom apartment. I would be lying if I told you I miss it- I don’t. However, I do miss those moments of being so carried away by a good book that nothing else in the world matters.  It is too easy to get wrapped up in making the world spin for everyone else and forget that to be the best mom, friend, sister, daughter, fiance.. those moments of clarity are vital.

New Years rolls around each year and I decide resolutions are too cliche, but by spring, I am due for some change. Especially this spring. (Did I mention I am getting married in four short months?!) I’m promising myself to put more effort into a few things that have been eating away at me. I’m looking for a balance, I’ve been teetering for too long.  Here are a few of what I am going to call my “spring resolutions” (because true to form, I can’t follow the norm and welcome change on January 1st.)

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1.  Pick up those pretty words.   A few books have been floating around my house for awhile now, just waiting to be devoured.  Overusing the words “I don’t have time” is a problem I have. One chapter a night before bed- anyone has time for that. No more excuses.  I am going to read these books.  (The top of my “to-read” list: Love Does, All We Ever Wanted Was Everything, A Practical Wedding)

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2. Say hello to being a better friend.  I am so blessed to have my treasured circle of a few really great people that I share my life with.  I am consciously working on being a better friend– because as much as those friends need me, I need them.  (This fun stationery is from EmDashCo on Etsy.)

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3.Impromptu dates on the couch.  The scene is always the same.  I am in the kitchen, rushing around to get one more tray of cookies in the oven, wipe up the soggy cracker off of the table and respond to the mound of emails screaming my name.  (Glamorous.) Josh is on the couch, with a bowl of popcorn ( we dig popcorn around here) and he strategically puts one of my favorite movies in.  My immediate response? I can’t.  On second thought;  Yes. The emails and soggy cracker can wait. 

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4. Its the little things.  Most of you may not know this but before I fell in love with baking, I fell in love with makeup.  So often, lately, I grab for the neutrals, if I have had any time at all to throw something on my face.  My fingers are crossed that spring will push me back towards the fun plums, emeralds and royal blues hidden at the bottom of my makeup bag.  Nothing makes me feel better than the little things- like those fun pops of color. (This fun Stephanie Dawn makeup bag can be found here)

Well…. almost nothing.

shansig

Posted in personal | Tagged | 2 Comments

smitten on coconut

April 3, 2013

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Lately my eyes seem to be drawn to anything and everything coconut.  I first blame my lust on our recent trip to Hawaii (coconut shrimp, coconut scones, coconut beer, yes I said beer), but I am also placing a large majority of the blame on the coconut cream cupcake that I experienced at Cakes For a Cause last week in Columbus.  As part of the event each year, local bakeries compete in the Sweet Taste of Victory competition- and the winner is awarded a golden spatula!  Fun!  Best of all, you get to walk around stuffing your face with delectable cupcakes from all of the competing bakers. (Yes, a belly ache is involved but trust me- it is so worth it.)  Of all of our samplings we could not stop drooling over Kitties Cakes Coconut Cream cupcakes.  A clear winner not only in our eyes, but they also took home the prestigious golden spatula that night.

A week later, I am still dreaming about that lovely little piece of light, fluffy, coconuty heaven.  So, whats a girl to do? My take on the coconut cupcake may not win me a golden spatula, but these are pretty darn good.

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Mini Coconut Cupcakes  Yield: 48 mini cupcakes

  • 1 1/2 C cake flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 C sugar
  • 3/4 tsp coconut extract
  • 1/2 C coconut milk (I used Pure Coconut, it comes in a carton)
  • 4 egg whites

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Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F, line mini muffin tin.  In a small bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt.  In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add in coconut extract, followed by half of the flour mixture.  Add coconut milk, then the remaining half of flour mixture.  Set batter aside, and clean mixing bowl.  Place egg whites in clean bowl and beat on medium/high until the whites are stiff and glossy.  Gently fold egg whites into batter very slowly.  Fill mini liners using a spoon, 3/4 full.  Bake 10 minutes, using a toothpick to test when they are done baking.  Do not over-bake, but be sure the toothpick comes out clean before removing them from the oven. Let cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

  • 1 13oz can unsweetened coconut milk
  • 2 sticks butter, slightly softened
  • 2 1/2 C powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • shredded coconut for garnish

Instructions:

Using saucepan, bring coconut milk to a simmer over medium high heat.  Lower the heat and reduce for 25-30 minutes until about 3/4 cup remains.  Remove from heat and let cool completely.  In mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add 1/3 cup of reduced coconut milk, vanilla extract, and salt.  Beat until light and creamy.  Apply to cupcakes and sprinkle with coconut or toasted coconut if desired.

*A few notes: When it comes to baking, ingredients and amounts are pretty precise.  However, sometimes there are things you can do with what you have at home to convert  or substitute an ingredient.  Visit this post from Joy The Baker (a favorite of mine!) to find out how to turn all purpose flour (that you probably have on hand) into cake flour!

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Happy baking,

shansig

Posted in something sweet | Tagged | 2 Comments

water marble nail tutorial

April 2, 2013

Our friend (and Shan’s sister!) Brandy, showed us a trendy way to style our nails for spring.  Going for a monochromatic look, she demonstrated how to create marble nails using shades of teal.  A bit of a process, but simple enough that you won’t pull your hair out trying this fabulous technique!water_marble_nails_1a

  1. Paint a base coat on nails in one of your chosen colors.
  2. Using an adhesive, such as scotch tape, seal skin around nails – this will make clean up much easier afterwards.
  3. Drop one color at a time into a throwaway cup filled with room temperature filtered water.  Alternating the colors that contrast more will give you a bolder effect.
  4. Drag a toothpick through your colors creating a design (have fun with this!).
  5. Choose which part of the design you would like on your nail and dip at an angle.  Take your toothpick and pull away excess polish keeping your design from being ruined.
  6. Remove the nail.
  7. Peel off tape and clean up edges using a Q-tip and nail polish remover.
  8. Seal with a top coat.

Sky is the limit as far as colors and design!  We hope you enjoy this fantastic technique!  We can’t thank Brandy enough (not to be confused with “brandy j” – you can count on seeing more of the j-less Brandy in the future).

Posted in beauty, nails | Tagged | 2 Comments

lake wear

April 1, 2013

lake_wear_1Every year, when the weather begins to turn warm, my family heads North to a quaint island named Kelleys.  She is not particularly fancy but there’s something enchanting about her quiet streets and eclectic community.  This is the one place I travel where heels are more than likely left at home (but not always – wedges have a tendency to slip in from time to time).  With the dress code being casual I am always trying to come up with options that are pull out of bag friendly and comfortable enough for golf cart rides and picnic table wine tastings.  The maxi dress has proven to be ideal for all island situations – why they do not sell them at the ferry dock is beyond me.  Perfect for chilly and hot weather, easy to layer and travels like a dream – rarely does my bag leave the house for Kelleys without one in it.  Very sad to say goodbye to our first weekend on the island but already looking forward to many more maxi dress wearing lake days.lake_wear_2 lake_wear_3 lake_wear_4 lake_wear_5|WEARING| striped maxi dress similar/Forever 21 jean jacket/pink scarf similar/cream fedora similar/Target flats

brandyjsig

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