Lovely Cakes: Wedding Cake

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa!

My first attempt at making a wedding cake. French vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting. Boy was it much harder than I thought, but they enjoyed it. We had a cake cutting ceremony and all...hehe!

Lovely Blogs: Victoria Törnegren

{Victoria Törnegren's blog}

This is what I picture minimalism to be at its best.  Her bedroom is all white, and straight out of an Ikea showroom (which I might have just made up knowing that she is from Sweden).  It's incomprehensible that this girl's closet comprises of just two racks.  And yet every outfit of hers is so complete.  I love every single one of them!  The idea of an almost all-black wardrobe sounds so tempting--the fact that everything matches multiplies your outfit permutations by like a million!  And don't you just love that yellowish-greenish top/dress?  It just wouldn't be as special in an all-neon wardrobe.  

I'm addicted to her blog, even though the Google Swedish-to-English translation just doesn't quite cut it--although it's pretty entertaining to read all the broken English.

Lovely Cooking: Crunchy Chickpeas

Crunchy Chickpeas

From Food Network Magazine, September 2010

Article: 50 After School Snacks

Recipe

Cook one 15 oz. can of chickpeas (drained and washed), in an ovenproof skillet with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon each of cumin and smoked paprika, 2 minutes. Season with salt, then bake 20 minutes at 425 degrees.

This snack is simple, healthy, and delicious!

Lovely Cooking: Giada's Spinach Lasagna Rolls

I haven't tried any lasagna recipes before because it seemed intimidating but, this weekend I was feeling ambitious. I found this Lasagna Roll recipe on the Food Network website. I somehow convinced myself that lasagna rolls were easier to make than a pan of lasagna because I would be making it in smaller portions- which of course is not true but it got me to try the recipe =P

I chose this recipe because:
1. Giada's dishes look really good on the Food Network
2. This recipe received over 1000 reviews and is still showing up with a 5 star rating.
3. I wanted to make something with prosciutto in it, since J loves this stuff.

This recipe was definitely a success! I can finally say I've made lasagna and to top it off, J loved it! However, as much as I love having leftovers, I'm not really looking forward to this entire week's lunch special...spinach lasagna rolls.

Lovely Cakes: Rose Bouquet

Happy Birthday Aunty!

Obsessions: Alexander Wang

{Acne Jacket, T by Alexander Wang skirt & top, Acne boots, Alexander Wang bag // via Caroline's mode}

This outfit is perfect for the psuedo-summer we're having, during which I am trying to embrace the idea of wearing lots of black. I disagree with whatever or whoever tried to ingrain in my head the idea that sundresses are the uniform for summer. While I love bright, colorful, flowery dresses, I hate to feel I can't or shouldn't wear something just because of what season it is. However, I am probably the only person with this mental block to overcome... But I am proud to say that I've finally broken my you-can't-wear-silver-with-gold-jewelry mental block. Yay for baby steps!

Also, I need me some T by Alexander Wang basics! I love that skirt!

Obsessions: Acne shirt

{Acne shirt, Balenciaga bag, Levi's shorts // via Carolines mode}

Is it just me or are we all still waiting for summer here in orange county? I'm still optimistic that we'll get our well-deserved heat in October--although I'm probably the only one who actually wants it. All the blogs are starting to post fall fashion saying they're ready for the knits, leather jackets, and boots... but I still need my summer!


p.s. I found a new blog obsession!

Lovely Blogs: luluandyourmom

{post from http://ihatejackets.tumblr.com/}

As funny as I find this post, the sad truth is that I agree with Lulu here, and even more sad is that I could totally be the girl in this picture.  For some reason I enjoy taking pictures of my food, and it just so happens that sometimes I'm in the picture with the food.  And I usually have a huge smile.  And I admit I am oddly passionate about what most people would probably consider to be mediocre food.  Although, I feel that my ability to observe this fact excludes me from being categorized with this girl.  Haha!

Anyway, check out her blogs luluandyourmom and http://ihatejackets.tumblr.com/, they're interesting and funny, and I admire her individuality in a world of a million fashion bloggers.  She totally reminds me of both T (her personality, and the fact that she's a writer, and she seems to like strawberries the same way T likes cherries) and my cousin Taylor (they look alike!).

Obsessions: J.Crew

It's no secret I'm obsessed with J.Crew. So when the new catalog arrived in the mail yesterday, I eagerly flipped through it and found so many items I want! Ironically, I tend to prefer Fall and Winter clothing to Spring and Summer, which doesn't really work well with my tropical weather and lack of actual seasons. During the Spring and Summer months, I tend to ease up on clothing purchases and kind of go crazy during the Fall and Winter. I can't help it if I love dark colors, sweaters, cardigans, scarves, tights, and jackets!

These are the pieces I'm currently coveting...

{star dip ballet flats: $128}

{khloe jacquard cami: $88}

{silk safari blazer: $128}

{silk & sequin scoopneck tee: $148}

{novo-stripe bomber blouse: $148}

{metallic sequined bell skirt: $275}

{merino coquette sweater: $78}

Lovely Blogs: Jennifer Causey's Simply Breakfast blog

{all photos via Simply Breakfast blog}

Isn't this just so inspiring?

I think my mornings would be much brighter if they began with breakfasts as vibrant, colorful, and fresh as these.

Lovely Finds: Balenciaga 10th Anniversary Special Edition: Lizard Embossed

{image via Purseblog}

Since S had such a horrible experience with her Chanel purchase this week and decided she wanted a gray Balenciaga instead, I was excited when I saw this on Purse Blog today.  I think it would be a good (and also cheaper) alternative to the Chanel she was originally looking at.  What I love about it is that it is embossed lizard, and made of lambskin, which is much softer (and MUCH cheaper) than actual lizard skin.  

The bag is gorgeous!  You should get this, S!

Lovely Obsessions: Via Spiga Clogs

Meet the newest addition to my shoe collection!  I've been ogling over clogs all summer long and I finally found the perfect pair at Nordstrom Rack last weekend.  These embody everything I've been looking for in a clog... platform heel, butter soft leather, cute details, deep caramel color and the right price.  I picked these up for less than half the retail price (marked down to $89 from $198)!!

The other day I saw these See by Chloe Slingback wedges (as seen on Rachel Bilson... love her!) on Who What Wear and instantly fell in love.  At $270 the price is a bit steep for a trendy shoe... but at any weak moment i may cave-in and make them mine!

Lovely Eats: Coconut Hello Kitty [Animal Cracker] Cookies

These Animal Cracker Cookies looked so cute on the 101 Cookbooks blog (although obviously I used my own Hello Kitty cookie cutters instead of animal shapes-- and they're still so cute!) and the recipe sounded so delicious. I love coconut flavored anything, and I love animal crackers, so I had high expectations for this cookie recipe and it did not disappoint! The cookies have a decently strong coconut flavor to them, and they're sweet but not as sweet as your typical cookie (just like animal crackers). Now I just need to find me another use for the rest of the $10 jar of Organic unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil I bought just for this recipe... I guess I'll just have to bake another batch (since I've already eaten almost all of them)!

Anyway, you can find the recipe at 101 Cookbooks.