Wednesday, March 9, 2011

green + cream


= oh so good & cute!


I was blog browsing and came across a new blog
&
the cutest recipe for St. Patrick's Day!


Green Velvet Shamrock Whoopie Pies

 {{via paiges of style}}





Cake Recipe:

2 cups all purpose flour
1.5 tablespoons cocoa powder 
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg, preferably room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup buttermilk, preferably room temperature*
lots of green food coloring,I used 2 tubes (use the gel not the liquid)

Cream Cheese Filling:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position; preheat oven to 375F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt.

2. In large mixing bowl or stand mixer, beat butter on medium-high speed for 30 seconds, until smooth. Add brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. With mixer at medium speed, add egg and beat until thoroughly combined, then beat in vanilla. Add about one-third of flour mixture followed by half of buttermilk mixture, mixing until incorporated after each addition (about 15 seconds). Repeat using half of remaining flour mixture and all of remaining buttermilk mixture. Scrape down sides of bowl and add remaining flour mixture; mix at medium-low speed until batter is thoroughly combined, about 15 seconds. Add food coloring and continue mixing to incorporate color evenly. Remove bowl from mixer and fold batter a couple times with rubber spatula to incorporate any remaining flour and coloring.





3. Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a round tip and pipe your batter into the shamrocks. To make the shamrock, you will be piping the batter into 4 individual small hearts with the points touching. Can you see this in my pictures above? (If you need more guidance making the shamrocks, you could cut out a shamrock and trace it onto your parchment)
4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes, rotating halfway through, until tops are set. Cool cookies on cookie sheets. Make sure to watch them as they do cook pretty quickly.  




5. To make filling: In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy. 
6. To fill, dollop (or pipe) cream cheese filling on flat sides of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies, flat sides down. Do your best to match up similar sized and shaped shamrocks, it just turns out better that way (plus, I'm type A so I have to do crazy things like that)

To store: Refrigerate in airtight container up to 4 days. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving. 













LOVE,
A

WINES-day Wednesday







"wine is bottled poetry"






Happy WINES-day!

LOVE,
A

Monday, March 7, 2011

Not Me Monday





*I did not totally forget to do this yesterday {Monday} and am doing it today {Tuesday}... No, not me!
{although I'm scheduling it to appear as I did it yesterday} 

*I do not have "Mommy Brain"... No, not me!

*I am not at all excited for this season's "TRHOC" {The Real Housewives of Orange County}...No, not me!



okay... that's all I got...
anyone else excited for this season's "TRHOC"?







LOVE,
A



Sunday, March 6, 2011

Scripture Sunday ♥









"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, 
Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 
plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11






LOVE,
A

Friday, March 4, 2011

Friday FUNNY



{{[WARNING]: may cause laughing out loud!}}

{{& sorry for it not fitting properly}}


"Toddlers & Tiaras"
with Tom Hanks

  






LOVE,
A

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Thursday Purseday







Hot Purses for Spring

From the sleek & minimalist to the eye-catching and embellished, there's a bag to suit everyone's fancy.
guaranteed to have you dreaming of luxe leather and eating ramen for months.
Start saving your pennies ladies!



Hermes Birkin Club Spring/Summer 2011
http://www.everything-beautiful.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/HERMES-BAG.png

{{I put an {{X}} through the one purse, b/c I do not like it... it looks like a picnic basket!}}
I LOVE the second one, & those shoes too!

Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2011


   
Gucci Spring/Summer 2011
http://www.everything-beautiful.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/designer-handbags-2011.jpg

 I'm not usually a fan of Gucci purses... but I LOVE this one... probably because of the BOW!

Chanel Spring/Summer 2011


http://www.everything-beautiful.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/chanel2011.jpg 


 

Givenchy Spring/Summer 2011

 
Christian Louboutin Spring/Summer 2011

AND now,
I saved the best for last...
LOUIS!

Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2011












LOVE,
A


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Wordless Wednesday {{first pizza}}











HAPPY BIRTHDAY

JON BON JOVI!

You've still GOT it!
{{just with my family alone you have 3 generations rockin' out to your music!}}


now for the best part of this post...










LOVE,
A

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

TO DO List Tuesday





oh my goodness
there is SO much to do!

I'm in need of a cleaning fairy maid!


maybe two actually...
one for all the normal housework, laundry, dishes, vacuuming..etc.
another one to keep up with my little prissy messy pants!





OH... and....

HAPPY MARCH!



LOVE,
A


Monday, February 28, 2011

Not Me Monday






{{confession session}}


*I have not been in my comfy sweatpants since the weekend, and today... No, not me!
{{can I use my girl card for this?}}
*I am not so very excited for PLL's {{Pretty Little Liars}} tonight... No, not me!
{{I know I say this every Monday, but I can't help it- I just LOVE that show}}
*I am not in the least bit ecstatic to hear who will be on the new Season of DWTS 
{{Dancing With The Stars}} tonight... No, not me!
*I am not seriously considering ordering pizza, again, for dinner tonight
{{so I won't have to cook!}}... No, not me!
*I did not make and finish 5 coffee drinks today... No, not me!
*I have no let my child stay in her pj's for the last 2 days... No, not me!
that's it... & that's all!

oh except for this... since this is "confession session" and all, 
I might as well include my "blonde moment"
I had over the weekend...

I was so excited that a friend shared a special promo code to get a large Papa Johns pizza for 50% off!
So I quickly decided that pizza sounded perfect for dinner!
{{I'll post pictures of Kenley eating her first slice of pizza, b/c of course I took some!}} 
I chose a pizza online and entered the promo code, {{MAGICWIN}}, Thank You Magic!
And paid for it- so all I had to do was wait for a confirmation email telling me when to pick it up.
Which I got minutes later, and wrote down the order number {{just in case I needed it- I'm a nerd like this}}
and also wrote down the store number... not sure why, but I did!
As I'm going to walk in to pick it up, 
I notice that there's a different number above the door than the one I wrote down.
{{OH CRAP!}}
So I remember maybe there being another Papa Johns down the road, so I leave and go and see.
ONLY to be WRONG!
So I had to go back, and of course I hit every red light on the way back!
{{so my luck}}

Oh well, at least I know there is only ONE now!





Sunday, February 27, 2011

SHOP with Me Saturday!







Okay so the above little picture
is nothing what I looked like today, while making a quick shopping trip!

I seriously committed like 5 fashion No No's today!

BUT

at least my little prissy pants looked adorable!



SO while out picking up a few must-haves... 
milk, wipes, Starbucks... 
okay maybe that last one wasn't such a "must-have"
BUT
today I just needed one!
Ever have those days too?


oh I  just LOVE my super Tar-jaay!





HOPE everyone is having a fun and relaxing Saturday!





LOVE,
A


Scripture Sunday ♥








"Trust the Lord with all your heart 
and lean not on your own understanding:
in all your ways acknowledge Him, 
and He shall direct your path."
Proverbs 3:4-6




LOVE,
A

Friday, February 25, 2011

HAPPY



FRIDAY!



I've been MIA for the last two days...

for good reasons, promise!
Working on things for {{CB}}
and 
working on a baby shower for a good friend of mine too!


but no more neglecting HH's & HB's!


Happy Happy Friday!




LOVE,
A

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Tequila, Salt, & Lime! ♥



those three things make the BEST little drink... EVER!




today is "Margarita" Day!

 {{no joking, it's a real day!}}



HAPPY MARGARITA Day!

LOVE,
A

SHOES-day Tuesday ♥










{{via Chic Talk}}



{{click "Chic Talk" to see today's pair pick!}}


I LOVE today's pick!



Monday, February 21, 2011

HAPPY







Presidents Day!








LOVE,
A

NOT Me Monday






*I did not stay up way past my bedtime last night to watch, "The Real Housewives of ATL" Reunion part 2, and am now having a hard time being awake and function, NO, not me!

*I did not put off going grocery shopping this weekend and save it for today, NO, not me!
{{along with... making appointments for Kenley for her 12 month check up and photo shoot}}

*I did not just finally cut into Kenley's birthday cake, NO, not me!

*I am not super excited to watch PLL's {{Pretty Little Liars}} tonight 
&
the Lifetime movie about Amanda Knox
{{Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy}}

anyone else going to be watching this movie too?


here's to a fabulous Monday!
&
a good movie-filled night!
{{hopefully}}


LOVE,
A

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Scripture Sunday ♥








The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? 

Psalm 27:1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LOVE,
A

Saturday, February 19, 2011

SHOP with Me Saturday









I could SO use a shopping day!



BUT
instead of shopping
I'll be visiting with two of my favorite preggo's today!


First up,
going to a friend's baby shower!


and then later,
visiting with another dear friend of mine
who is also pregnant... must be the water! ha

Not sure what we are going to do yet, but I'll be sure and take pictures!

Being around pregnant women really makes me in denial that my baby is a toddler!
I seriously feel that it wasn't that long ago I myself had the Buddha belly!

BUT
I LOVE my little toddler,
even with all the climbing and getting into
EVERYTHING!


HOPE
everyone is having a good weekend!




LOVE,
A