Hairstyle Love

Via

Currently Thinking About

My family and friends in Florida and Louisiana.




Bass tassle loafers.

A Clare Vivier tote bag.

Animal print loafers.

Work and what it means to mean me, is it just a way to make a living or does it define you?



This shrimp and pesto pizza with goat cheese.

Oh yeah, and I can't stop thinking about how crazy Ramona is.  How did I get sucked into this reality crap????

My Weekend

Oatmeal Cookies For Breakfast

I'm not a big fan of oatmeal and I know how good it is for you but it just doesn't taste good to me know matter what I add to it. However, oatmeal cookies are definitely a favorite around here especially for breakfast. This Martha Stewart recipe is the best recipe I have tried so far, and I have tried many.


Any dried fruit can be substituted for the raisins. Be sure the cookies are completely cool before storing in an airtight container.
Martha Stewart Living, January
Yield
Makes about 3 dozen
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Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoons milk
2 large eggs
3 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup raisins
Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter with both sugars, and beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, milk, and eggs, and mix well. Add flour mixture, and beat until just combined. Remove bowl from the electric mixer, and stir in oats and raisins. Place dough in the refrigerator until firm, about 2 hours or overnight.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper, and set aside. Scoop out 2 tablespoons of dough, and shape into a ball; place on one of the prepared sheets. Repeat with remaining dough, spacing balls 3 inches apart. Press down to flatten into 2-inch diameters.
Transfer to the oven, and bake until golden but still soft in center, 16 to 18 minutes, rotating the pans between oven shelves halfway through baking. Remove from oven, and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

More iPad Covers

I love these iPad skins from Society 6. Society 6 has a large variety of iPhone and iPad covers. They range from being funny to just beautiful and they are very reasonable.
These are a few of my favorites.

White Kitchens

I can not stop thinking about a white kitchen.  I want to paint my cabinets and walls white, get white marble counter tops, white subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances.  There is just something about white, it's clean, peaceful, fresh and calming. 







Above is my favorite.



kitchens via cococozy

iPad Covers

These two cases from Kate Spade are so adorable.

 

Posted with Blogsy

I Got an iPad

Now the hard part trying to decide on a cover. Who knew there were so many cute ones to pick from?

Laundry Detergent Update

I made another batch of laundry detergent and this time I grated the bar of soap smaller and it worked much better. Also, I stirred it really well.

Oiginal Post with  recipe can be found here

Happy 100th Birthday Julia Child

What a funny, intelligent woman. 

The Best Chocolate Cake

This chocolate cake is not only my favorite cake it is extremely easy to make.  The batter is pretty thin and liquidity which makes the cake very moist and airy.  Also, the cake isn't to sweet or to rich.  I get request for this cake all the time from family, friends and even neighbors.

Chocolate Cake

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup cocoa powder

2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

1 cup hot coffee

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Mix all together and beat 2 min. Butter pans, I use two 9 inch pans.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 min. 

Frosting:

3/4 cup cocoa

4 cups confectioners sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1 stick butter

Mix cocoa, sugar. Cream part of mix with 1/3 to 1/2 of butter. Blend in vanilla and 1/2 milk. Add rest of sugar mix and blend well. Add more milk as needed.

I always for get to take pictures as I am making the cake hopefully I will get better at this soon.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I have been reading a lot about homemade detergent lately and finally got around to making my own.  From everything I have read they all seem to use the same ingredients which can be made into a liquid or a powder form.  The only difference is the liquid form you boil with water and let it cool into a sort of thick liquid.  Since the liquid form is diluted with water you use about 1/2 of cup per load.

1 – 55 ounce box of Arm & Hammer® Super Washing Soda = $3.99

1 – 76 ounce box of 20 Mule Team® Borax = $4.69

1 – Bar of Fels-naptha soap = 1.39 each   (I bought 4 bars)  Ivory soap works well also

I got everything here locally at our grocery store, Wegman's.

Grate one bar of soap and mix with 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Washing Soda.  Stir everything together really well, it is just that easy.  You only need to use 1 tablespoon per load, if you have heavily soiled laundry you can add a little more. 

 So, after using this for awhile I will probably never buy regular detergent again.  At about 0.05 cents a load I am saving quite a bit of money.  My old detergent cost around 0.22 cents a load. 

Also, I have tested it on smelly, dirty lacrosse and football clothes and everything has come very clean.  You can rub the Fels-naptha directly on a stain and it works great.  The only thing I miss is that fresh like Downy smell so I buy dryer sheets to solve that issue.

Remember 1 tablespoon is all you need.

Fun ...They Are Just So Much Fun

I'm Obsessed With the Olympics

Olympics London 2012

I sometimes wonder if I actually have any regular readers, besides people who know me.  I have not been very consistent about posting lately because the boys and I have Olympic fever.  We are really enjoying watching the Olympics.  All of the athletes are so incredible. I can't even begin to imagine the pressure they must feel. 

photos via NBC

I Heart This DIY Table

 I have been lusting after one of these two tables from Restoration Hardware for quite awhile now.  They are both perfect in every way.  The first table with its wood top and metal base is simple, modern and rustic.  The second table has this beautiful cast iron base made of vintage sewing machine legs and a zinc table top.  Unfortunately both of these tables are out of my price range, for now at least. 

So today when I happened to be reading Creature Comforts I immediately fell in love with this table.  I am amazed by how talented and creative Ez, the author of Creature Comforts, is.  There is not a DIY bone in my body but for this table I may have to gather all the patience and tools I can muster and attempt to make this table.   Oh yeah, I must call my Dad and enlist his help.  It is my only chance at successfully making this table.