July 10, 2015
Foodie Friday: Quick & Easy Cone Cupcakes
When it comes to hosting parties I like to "wow" my guest with fun treats. These special deserts don't have to be anything incredibility difficult to make. I love to keep my food prep pretty simple especially when I'm the one hosting the party. There's already so much to worry about that you don't want to spend most of our time making one dish. With that said, for me when it comes to throwing a party, I look for some boxed goods (cake mixes, etc) that I can make a presentation out of. I love these Cone Cupcakes because they are just that. They look like time was spent on them but the little secret is that not a lot of time really goes into it (unless you want to bake everything from scratch, which by all means go for it!). These Cone Cupcakes are perfect for summer BBQs or kids birthday parties. I made these for my husband and I's 4th of July Party and they were a total hit!
What You'll Need:
- Ice Cream Cup Cones (used Keebler)
- Boxed Cake Mix ...of your choice (if you want to dye your batter choose a white cake mix)
- Frosting...of your choice (you can make your own if you so choose)
- Sprinkles
1. Pre-heat the oven to the temperature desired.
2. Follow the cake box instructions. Once you have your battered mixed, if doing two separate colors: separate the batter into two bowls. Add food dye into each bowl and mix. To achieve the desired color, add more dye if necessary.
3. Once your batter is all mixed...In a muffin pan lightly spray the pan with cooking spray, then place cones into the tray. Fill cones half way up.
4. After you fill our cones, carefully place them into the oven for about 14-20 minutes. Or until your toothpick comes out clean.
5. Let your cupcakes cool after baking. Once they are cooled you can begin to decorate them. The idea of these cupcakes are to make them sort of look like a soft served ice cream cone. If doing a can of frosting choose one that is light and fluffy. If you don't have a pastry bag don't worry! Take a ziplock bag, fill it with frosting, zip the bag, and push the frosting down to one edge of the bag. Clip the edge and you can now decorate. Create spirals starting from the edge of the cupcake working in towards the middle. Once your cupcakes are all frosted, add sprinkles!
6. Serve and enjoy!!
I added food dye to my batter so that when you bit into the cone you got a nice surprise of red or blue. You can do this with any color that you like OR you can use red velvet or chocolate cake to get the same effect. You can even add maraschino cherry to top off the cupcakes!
Would you make these for your next party?
July 8, 2015
Style Guide: How to Wear a Long Silk Vest {PART 2}
So last week I brought you PART 1 of how to wear a long silk vest (which you can read about here), today we are transitioning it from a layered piece to a dress. Wait, what? Yes a dress. It's as simple as wearing a slip or a tunic tank top underneath a belted long silk vest. Wah-la, you got a yourself a new dress!
Vest: Susan Graver c/o QVC (similar style here and here) | Tunic: Barney's COOP | Belt: Madewell | Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff | Sunglasses: Feather's Boutique
1. Wear a Slip. If you're doing a light colored vest or even one the has a lot of color, keep your slip a neutral color like white or tan...or try to match the color (or a color) of the vest. I used a mint green tunic tank top that blended underneath mine. You want to be able to blend in your slip so that it doesn't stand out underneath your look.
2. Keep It Belted. When doing a pastel or even a colorful long vest take a darker printed belt. Go for a belt that you can tie. This will give the look a bit more of interest while helping keep everything in place.
3. Wedge It. This look is perfect for work and summer weddings. Add a wedge for a dressy yet casual look. Wedges are my perfect sandal when wanting to add height without looking overly dressy.
4. Nude Lip. Whether for work or for a wedding, when doing a colorful dress pair it with a neutral lip. I love NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bahama. It's a nude color but has a richer depth to it. I find true nudes too pale for me, so I look for nudes that have a richer deeper color to it. Keeping a nude lip helps tone the look for a day time affair and lets the look talk for itself.
Would you wear a vest as a dress?
I try to live life with a optimistic outlook. Positive thinking creates positive outcomes. I try to surround my lifestyle around my way of thinking, from scents and colors that make me feel happy to the little things that start my day off right; cuddling my cat or a good cup off coffee. Lifetherapy is a lifestyle brand that follows my same positive thinking, they were "founded upon the fundamental belief that when we live positively with scent and color, we can directly impact our outlook; we empower ourselves to meet life's outcome with a positive frame of mind." (lifetherapy.com) Lifetherapy took our daily life and created a positive scent associated to it. They have scents for Vacation (warm & sensuous), Chill (subtle & peaceful), Flirt (innocent & playful), Escape (clean & crisp), and Play (feminine & youthful).
Jumpsuit: Yumi Kim | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff | Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell (similar style here) |
Sunglasses: Feathers Boutique | Lotions: c/o Lifetherapy
I love that with this sample collection I can pair up my scent with my mood and style. I was feeling pretty flirty in this playsuit by Yumi Kim, so the scent of bergamot, water flowers, coconut, muguet, and rose boosted this feeling...and my confidence. These little bottles are perfect to throw in my bag and go. I can switch up my mood and scent whenever, wherever.
J.Crew | Lord & Taylor | Solid & Striped | Sperry | Soludos | Madewell
It's the 4th of July Weekend you guys! HIP HIP HOORAY! Are you ready to celebrate America in style? No? Well. you're in luck that our flag's colors are probably something that you already have in your closet. Dig for that red or blue stripped shirt, skirt, or dress and pair with accessories like Sperry's watch. For a casual BBQ look play with a stripped shift dress like the one from J.Crew and a boater hat. For a beach look turn to American Apparel for a sexy swimwear full of American Pride or do a retro style swimsuit like the one from Solid & Striped.
My husband and I are throwing our 2nd Annual 4th of July Rooftop Party. This is the second year in a row that you'll be able to see the fireworks from Brooklyn! We are really lucky to have such a great view of the city and the east river from our roof.
Shirt: J.Crew | Shorts: American Eagle (similar style here) | Shoes: Soludos | Bag: c/o Boohoo | Scarf: Topshop
What are your 4th of July plans?
July 1, 2015
Style Guide: How to Wear a Long Silk Vest {PART 1}
Who says you can't layer during the Spring? I love layering looks even in the Spring & Summer time. The trick to wearing layers during the hotter months are keeping the layered pieces light. And there's no better lighter piece then a long silky vest.
Shoes: Anne Michelle via Ideeli (similar styles here, here, and here) | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff |
Sunglasses: Feather's Boutique
pictures by Brian Cavanaugh
1. Keep It Light. When picking layering pieces for the Summer you want to think light and flowy. Pick a silky vest or a scarf vest, these have a bit of air to them and movement. Doing a light piece will not only help you from sweating everywhere but also won't add bulk to your look.
2. Add a Pop of Color. When doing a silk vest pick one that has color to it, it is summer after all! Doing a vest that has that summer color will also add a lightness to the overall look. When doing a colorful vest keep everything else neutral. I love all white outfits paired with a POP of color.
3. Play with Lengths. When doing something long you always want to make your legs look long. Wearing high heels will add the length to your legs while also equaling out the long length of the vest.
4. Keep it Basic. Don't clutter the look with lots of accessories. I'm a total minimalist, especially during the Summer, so I love clean looks. When it comes to layering, I like a look that doesn't have too many pieces as the focus should be on one or two pieces. The focus of this look is the silk vest so if doing a necklace or bracelet do simple little pieces with a nude bag and heel. Of course this doesn't mean boring. Go for a shoe that has some interesting detail like a lace up heel.
How would you wear a silk vest?
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