Monday, May 27, 2013

Local latte love

       My goal on this blog is to pay some homage to the city I love and live in. South Oceanside! Yes it's a military city, so Happy Memorial Day!!!! But Oceanside is full of kitschy, trendy and eclectic spots and pretty much a little weird. The beaches here are absolutely beautiful and the only thing that separates us from cookie cutter robot Carlsbad is a swamp....hahah. Any shoo the other day I was able to visit with a friend at Petite Madeline's. A local French patisserie and breakfast spot. Even their water is amazing! You can self serve a refreshing glass of water infused with cucumber and orchid, while soaking in the original antique rafters, tin tile, and absolutely delicious and health conscious menu. It is located in the original Oceanside Surf Museum location, but with huge windows that allow you a cool view of the local passerbys our amazing and original Art Deco style city hall, the brick outside on the corner alone is older than my grandmother. Take a peek an check it out for some great local eats and delicious beverages only a few blocks from the longest wooden pier on the west coast reaching almost 2000 ft. Oceanside alone is also ranked 2nd in the United States with the best weather in the United States. Need I say more.....oh and there isn't a stitch of suburbia seen in downtown Oceanside. 

http://www.petitemadelinebakery.com/



Friday, May 24, 2013

Friday facelift Strawberry & Coconut Milkcakes!!

Okay, what are Milkcakes? Well they are cupcakes but i like to call them milk cakes cause it reminds me a little of the way a milkshake tastes, and made with Unsweetened Coconut Milk, and coconut oil instead of your normal unhealthy ingredients.
Now I can Not cook. It's horrible, I burn popcorn, but for some reason I can make drinks, desserts and dips and salsas. I even burn popcorn. My husband is the real cook. 
This recipe is fairly easy given the right temperature and products (I have a degenerative back and I used a baking spoon. So I pulled up a chair and mixed on our island with my tens unit and cute little baking apron on, cause i was determined and headed for success!!


I use LouAnas pure coconut oil and I definitely use unsweetened coconut milk. Both products have just a hint of that underpaying coconut taste, almost where you would barely even notice it.  Here's the list of products you shall need for the deed!!


While your at it preheat your oven to 350@ degrees. Here's what your prep table will look like. Then wash your mitts!

I also use Layer Bake Shop for vintage inspired baking supplies if I can't find them on etsy!
I used paper straws to give the Milkcakes the Milkshake look. And they are so cute, so perfect for get together s or parties, 


You'll want to add you strawberry cake mix last
* Remember Coconut oil hardens under 70@ degrees so make sure it's a little warm and in liquid form when you use it. You can use a microwave for a couple seconds or let the container sit on your oven, it'll go liquid in less than a minute! 
* Also, coconut milk is refrigerated, so make sure that is warmed to when you mix. It has the same consistency as regular milk so it's quite cold and when you pour it in with coconut oil, cold milk will harden it and you will be mixing little beads of coconut oil till kingdom come!

Now!...
Take your warmed 1/4 cup of Coconut oil
Your warmed 1 cup of coconut milk
Your two tablespoons of warm water
And your 3 little eggs 

And pour them all in your mixing bowl and whisk away, or set you mixer at medium till its nice and liquidy! 
Now pour you Strawberry mix into the bowl and whisk till its smooth!!


Once you are smoother than Sade, pour your mix into your baking cups.
* with any cup size don't fill it all the way to the top. This will give it room to grow and get its Lil muffin top in the oven. Now pop me in. Let them bake for 19 to 23 minutes approximately. At the 19 minute mark you could try the old fashioned toothpick test. If anything sticks it just needs a little longer. 


Now for your straws.
Cut them in three inch sections, angling your scissors diagonally so that you can use the pointy side to push into your Milkcakes.


Now your cakes have cooked.
When you pull them out of the oven, let them cool for a good 20 to thirty minutes since cream cheese frosting is heat sensitive like buttercream. 
Once they are cool, pop open your cream cheese whipped frosting. I give it a few spoon swirls to soften it up for frosting the cakes. 
Then use a baking spatula or butter knife 


One they've all been lathered up nicely....pop them in the refrigerator! Mine sat overnight cause it was past my bedtime but 20/30 minutes will do, enough to allow the frosting to dry. 

Now pull me out and pop those cute little straws in them on an angle, and find a cute plate to serve them on. Enjoy! And try not to eat them all!....or at least not 7 like I did...I made minis okay!!!

 


http://www.thedandyfox.blogspot.com/p/recipes.html

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Tennessee taste for Weekly Wednesday Wants

So many readers have probably been lucky enough to catch the first debut season of the abc show, Nashville. 
First and foremost, my obsession with Nashville originally began in high school and with a daddy from the heart of Texas, football and country is in my blood whether I like it or not. I've always been a bluegrass, folky acoustical lover so this show hit me in many ways. My dad has always worked behind the scenes as a producer and well, my mom was a singer. Everything from rock to soul, blues, and gospel, she could sing  it...well. I always thought I would fall right into what they did, truth is I absolutely hate being stared at! 
I spent the first 14 years of my life as an only child so I had alot of time to kill, after going to many rehearsals and soundchecks in my life, and several years of piano and guitar, I used alot of time to write. At first it was just poetry but when I got my own guitar ( instead of one of moms) I couldn't stop writing. No matter what, it's always been an outlet for me no matter what has caused it. 
Since then, my family home burned down 6 years go my writing of 10 years along with two guitars and my keyboard went in flames. 
Then I stopped completely. Gave it up. But.......
With surgery pending, I'm going to need a other creative outlet so I think  it's fine to crack my fingers and dust off my heart. This set is part of the Weekly Wednesday Wants as the show is quite inspiring. At least musically. Check out my set and the show on Wednesdays on abc!! 


Tennessee taste

Monday, May 20, 2013

Pretty Lil Pucker

So.....a lot of ladies think they can't wear a lot of lip colors. Well I say you can. While certain skin tones should stick to different shades of certain colors...there are many ways to make your lipstick POP and stay put without shelling out bucks for  "lip primer". We all have different lip pigments as well.
 Ladies that have thinner skin tend to have more color to their lips naturally so colors stand out differently on them.

So...

Here's a quick trick on how to make you lipstick pop! 
I used and Have a personal obsession with Aveda's nourish-mint lip glaze
It has an amazing amount of pigment, paraben free, and tastes of sugar and mint. 
The mint actually acts as a natural lip plumper minus the sting.

First make sure that your pretty pout isn't chappy! Then take your concealer and blot over your lips with a sponge. This will give your lips a plain, even palette, and yes you will look slightly dead....

Then grab a lip liner closest to your natural lip color


Then pick your poison!!

And apply generously, remember...stay in the lines!!! 

Voila. Lasts a lot longer than your standard quick application. 

That's it! Here's a pic from a fabulous flea market that happens to be in the middle of cookie cutter suburbia, trust me i was not there on purpose. If you ever want to hear stories, go to flea markets and estate sales....you'll make friends quick! And also need to set a time limit so you don't end up buying them out of their vintage and upcycled awesomeness!!! 




Friday, May 17, 2013

Sneak peek room makeover leak

Hi weekend warriors!! Here's a sneak peak of the design concept we came up with via polyvore. It's like Pinterest but better! You can create your own, outfit, look, product, style or inspiration board, custom! I love it so much I wanted to keep it to myself. But that's just not possible. Happy Friday!!!

Sneak peek room makeover leak

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Spring inspiration from The Cannes Film Festival

    On Sunday I had a client who was getting her color done in preparation for her trip to France for the Cannes Film Festival, which is extra special this year because they are celebrating 40 years. So she inspired my weekly wednesday want. Here's a polyvore set I created (with of course a ton of my Brian Atwood faves!)
    Early to mid century inspiration is still on trend with everything from messy boho braids to deep parted soft retro waves. A great mesh of the large gap in decade trends and differences is going soft on accessories (since the clothes of those times were...loud) with rhinestone flower barrettes and rings. They appeal to the boho floral feel and the glitter of the 20s and 30s. 
   Formal spring/summer events are a little harder to appeal to as we are in a war of the eras, anything era goes really. Keeping your dresses shorter or a peek of the leg will work for something that sparked. While softer fabrics will balance a longer dress.
  For makeup we are seeing natural hues of eye shadows with strong lashes and liners, combined with cocktail inspired matte lips. Think rosé, pomegranate, grape, merlot, peaches and creme. 
  Hope you like the set! And all the Brian Atwood (swoon!!)
Spring inspiration from The Cannes Film Festival

Jovani mini dress
$1,150 - harrods.com

Prom evening dress
rissyroos.com

Jigsaw flapper cocktail dress
$495 - johnlewis.com

Ban do ban do
shopbop.com

Hair clip accessory
$60 - stone-bridge.co.uk

AERIN lip makeup
bergdorfgoodman.com