A Much Needed Update + Bridal Shower Fever

{via Cotton & Crumbs}

Hi girls! Oh, my goodness, lots going on! Hence why I haven't updated my blog in forever and for that I am quite sorry. I've been commuting between Northern and Southern California the last few months and I find it very difficult to get any blogging done, unfortunately. I am working in my hometown of Orange County again so that makes me completely ecstatic! I'm doing bridal hair and makeup with my new associate that I'm over the moon about. I'm one happy girl to have met and be able to work with such an amazing person. Lots of updates on everything that I am doing soon.

I am also freelance writing from home when I'm in NorCal all while starting to plan my best friends bridal shower and help out with her wedding planning! She gets married in November and her bridal shower is mid-October, so lots to do between then and now. I'm already so excited to style, decorate and throw her the best bridal shower, along with her good friends and Mom, which I'm very close to. It's going to be Oh, so darling to say the least. Her colors are midnight blue, lavender, black and dove- so pretty, right? Get ready to see some behind the scene sneak peeks of the planning process! Follow my pins {my link is on the sidebar} to keep up with everything that inspires me. Thanks for sticking with me, hope you're all having an amazing week!

Recipe: Chai Spice + Mexican Chocolate Cookies

It's been a while since I've been near an oven, much to the fault of the crazy heat here in Northern California. Goodness do I miss an ocean breeze. Anyway, I digress. I've been chugging iced chai spice lattes like water lately and I got to thinking that if I could put that flavor into a cookie it would make me one happy lady. So I got started with my favorite chocolate chip cookie {link below} and added things and changed things to suit my palate. In the flurry of complete surrender to my taste buds I thought, why not add a taste  of one of my other favorite drinks? Mexican hot chocolate. It would be like a Mexican hot chocolate cookie! Oh, my; the rich spicy flavors, creamy texture and heavenly aroma... I was drooling already. So there I was, ready to make my chocolate-y, spice, cookie dough dreams come true- just me, the mixer and a handful of flavors. 

The base of this cookie is this recipe, which I've previously already blogged about. It rocks my world. I knew I couldn't go wrong so long as I used it as a starter. So here's my little creation, I hope it's tempting enough to consider turning on your oven in the Summer time. Recipe after the jump.

Recipe: The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Yet

I made this delicious chocolate chip recipe last night and wow, are they amazing. They make giant cookies that are chewy, flavorful and bake to perfection. The only adjustments I made were to bake them for 8 minutes in a convection oven after measuring the dough with a tablespoon instead of a 1/4 cup. And then once they're out of the oven I fan the cookies while they're still on the tray for about 15 seconds (I use my hand while it's still in the oven mitt, that helps) then transfer them immediately to a wire rack. I feel this prevents them from over-cooking, keeping that yummy chewy center. They're so good I had them for breakfast. It's definitely my new favorite go-to cookie recipe. Hope you make these and eat them all up! Recipe after the jump.

Make it a pretty party

{Sweet Lulu images via Hostess with the Mostess}

If you were inspired by my last post (and this one too} and want to get your hands on cute dessert table decor visit Sweet Lulu & Bake It Pretty to make all your sweet party detail dreams come true. Everything you could think of to pretty up your confections and your space, these shops have it all!  A girl could really loose it and go on a spending spree. So the next time you're looking for those pretty striped straws, fancy cupcake wrappers or cute little treat bags you'll know where to find them!

{Pretty baking kits via Bake It Pretty}

Valentine's Tablescape Inspiration

I'm such a sucker for tablescapes. There are so many different styles, themes and colors palette possibilities! But one of my favorites are the super girly, glittery, pink ones of course. Here is one done by Sitting in a Tree Events {their work is amazing} for Valentine's Day. It's gorgeous!

{Images via Grey Likes Weddings/ Photography by Joielala}

     *What kind of yummy treats do you plan on making for the lovey-dovey day? 

{Image via Annie's Eats}

 I have my eye set on this yummy neapolitan creation.

Recipe: Giant S'mores Cookies

Pretty much the most delicious cookie I've made! These will rock your world. I had been craving s'mores for a while when I decide to make these cookies after stumbling across this fantastic cookie recipe at My Baking Addiction. I think these are my new favorite cookie! And they smell....ah-mazing. I've made these 3 times already... 

Recipe: Cake Mix Whoopie Pies

This super easy recipe is from GroupRecipe. Requires little time to throw together and totally fool proof since you make it from a box. Whoopie pies are becoming the new cupcake and I kind of like it! Maybe because they look like jumbo macarons. There are so many different flavors and combinations to try. I made mine with double fudge cake, it had bits of fudge in the mix, it was pretty good. I liked this filling but I think there's room for improvement. Overall this specific combination tasted exactly like an ice cream sandwich. I'll have to try a whoopie pie/cookie recipe from scratch, I'm thinking gingerbread or red velvet...

Recipe: Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Wow, searched the internet wide for a good gingerbread cupcake recipe and didn't find very many. So I'm glad I went with the McCormick recipe I decided on. This gingerbread is just the right amount of spice combination {I also added a dash of ground nutmeg and cloves}

{Moist, delicious, aromatic, and melt in your mouth}

And that's just the cake, the frosting is a whole other sweet story! This cream cheese frosting is light and just the right amount of sweet {I added a teaspoon of light brown sugar and only 3/4 of the powdered sugar box}. My brother-in-law described it as biting into a sweet cloud :)

Fill your home with the comforting smell of holiday gingerbread and have fun decorating!

Recipe: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

I'm so glad the weather is staring to feel more like the start of Fall. I see leaves on the ground and we've gotten a little rain so far. So, my mind immediately turns to the wonderful use of pumpkin. In everything really, chai latte's, pie, and in this case, muffins. Really this recipe is more like cupcakes because they're just so delicious you can't really categorize these as muffins. With they're delicious cream cheese filled center, it's like the frosting is on the inside.  I loved every part of this cupcake the batter was perfection, the cream cheese was just the right amount of sweet, and the topping had great texture. These lovelies filled the house with the most delicious aroma, I wish I could capture it and keep it year round. My family loved these. It makes me happy:)

Recipe from Annie's Eats.

Yield: 24 muffins
Ingredients:
For the filling:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar

For the muffins:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
4 large eggs
2 cups sugar
2 cups pumpkin puree
1¼ cups vegetable oil

For the topping:
½ cup sugar
5 tbsp. flour
1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
4 tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

{Yummy Donuts}

Finally bought myself a donut pan to bake delicious donuts. I quite like it! So today after work I made my first batch and they totally satisfied my craving for home baked donuts. Super easy and quick to make. Recipe from Sur La Table {love that store}, I added a little pumpkin spice and vanilla to mine. Yum!

{A very delicious birthday}

Yesterday was my 25th birthday. I woke me up to the smell of gardenias that my husband had scattered through out our room. And I got to spend the day doing some of my favorite things. I decided to try my hand at eclairs, something I haven't made before. And I have to say they turned out delicious! Homemade is always better than store bought. I found a pretty simple recipe and got to it, I was surprised by how easy they are to make. I'll definitely be making these again. While the husband made one of my favorite desserts as my birthday cake, pavlova. I just love being in the kitchen with family. 

You can find the eclair recipe here and the pavlova recipe here.

{Oh, so cute: Cupcake Stands}

Such a cute idea. 

Buy them here at Hello Hanna.

{Oh, so sweet: Peach Cupcakes}

It's crazy how much I love a deliciously ripe, fragrant summer peach...or 5. I seriously could eat them all day long, all Summer long. So I was thrilled when I stumbled upon this delicious peach cupcake recipe at Smitten Kitchen. You just have to make these! They're like mini peach cobblers topped with an amazing brown sugar cream cheese frosting {that I and the rest of my family fell in love with} I'll spare you and won't even tell you how many I ate. The recipe makes 2 dozen plump cupcakes, enough to share with friends and neighbors.

P.S: In case you don't have cake flour for this recipe you can substitute all-purpose flour by using the following equivalent. For every 1 cup cake flour you need use 1 cup minus 2 Tbl sifted all-purpose flour.

DIY: Tea Party Ideas

 

I'm in the mood for a lovely tea party! A DIY Tea Party. I found some cute ideas that would be fun to do or make at a tea party, like Martha Stewart's idea for making your own teacup candles! Super cute. 

Or making your own mini donuts, awesome invention. I want one!

Oh, you could also gather a bunch of wild flowers and create your own floral arrangement in teacups, this is great if you want to have your party outdoors.

But the cutest thing I found was this Tea Cupcakes Mold set, you bake the cupcake right in these silicone teacup molds and they're ready to be decorated and served! Create a buffet of colorful sprinkles and frosting and have at it.

Yum!

Hope these fun ideas help in case you're having friends over for a DIY tea party!

 

♥ ♥ ♥

XOXO

{Food for Thought}

I've recently (since moving back to California) had the time to be able to cook and bake as much as my little heart desires due to having a lot of time on my hands...mostly due to not being employed yet, unfortunately. I have come across some pretty worthy food blogs to pass along if you haven't already heard of them or read them. They are bursting with delightful eye-candy and recipes begging for me to make. 

These blogs come in so handy whether you're bored and want to see some amazing photography/ want to satisfy a craving you've had for a while for something that you can't quite put your finger on/ or are in a jam and need something to take to a party or make for dinner. Check out my favorite food blogs on my sidebar.

My favorite that I've baked from lately is Smitten Kitchen. The author, Deb is witty and funny and includes lots of notes to help you through the recipes. The cream cheese brownies and black bottom cupcakes I made turned out exactly as I imagined...delicious.