Reading: Destroy All Monsters by Greg Hrbek
Watching: Downton Abbey, Season 2
Listening to: Motion City Soundtrack, "The Future Freaks Me Out." Because I miss 2003.
Excited about: Road-trip planning with Jess!
Loving: That I'm keeping my Christmas lights up. Just a little bit longer.
Haunting: Saturated Canary -- I get so excited when there's a new post, I can't even lie.
Some Valentine’s inspiration
So the closer it gets to Cupcakes & Wine day, the more excited I get about my very first themed party. With luck, those threats and guilt trips will work, and folks will actually show up. I mean, I love my friends, but historically? We’re kind of bums about this sort of thing. So. You know. Cue the threats and guilt trips.
Anyway.
I browsed the ‘Net this weekend for some V-Day inspiration, and OH, Internet. You have not failed me. Check out some of these gorgeous ideas for all things glitzy and glamorous:
1.) Leopard, Lace & Love for Valentine’s Day, courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess
2.) Glam Valentine’s Day Wedding Shoot, via Pizzazzerie
3.) Valentine’s Day Goodie Bags, from Twig & Thistle (And can I just say? HOLY GORGEOUSNESS, this website.)
4.) Valentine’s Day Cookie Pop Tutorial, also from Pizzazzerie
You can find the motherload of gorgeous table spreads here, at Pizzazzerie. Of course. Because isn’t everything on Pizzazzerie amazing? Good. Ness.
Food-wise, I’m kind of drooling over these Cherry Chocolate Kisses and Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cupcakes.
I have added so many new websites to my feed reader tonight… It’s kind of a mess. But oh so much fun.
Also, since this post is sheer girliness right now, let me just man it up a little by adding:
Dear Giants: Since the 49′ers beat my Saints last weekend in a heartbreaking (and somewhat dirty) game (LISTEN. You can’t just win by injuring the other team. SAN FRANCISCO. I’M LOOKING AT YOU.) — I really need you to kick their behinds tonight. Also, if you could then go on to cream the Patriots in the Super Bowl? That’d be swell. Because it’s really almost unbearable to live in New England during football season when you hate the Pats as much as I do, and a Super Bowl win definitely does not make that any better. Love, Melissa
Annnnnd scene. Happy Sunday, all!
On some snark (and a weekend snowstorm)
Hi, friends. It’s been a week.
…I kind of feel like it’s been a year. It’s been a long week. There’s been good and bad (mostly good), but there’s also been a whole stupid-ton of insomnia. I want to stab all insomnia. Over and over again. Forgive my dullness. I am useless and totally without sparkle when I don’t sleep.
Except on my fingernails. There is sparkle on my fingernails. …GOSH WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT.
Oh, friends! Let me share with you a special piece of snark I found hanging in my office building today:
I giggled. I giggled a lot. I also thought it was a little bit epic that the memo was apparently brought to us by not only the rag-tag management company that ignores clogged toilets and stairs with loose carpeting, but also by Homeland Security.
Oh, OR&L. You so wish.
Anyhow, it looks like we’re getting some snow here in CT tomorrow, and I can’t say I’m not a little bit relieved. I’m looking forward to the excuse to sleep in and tackle a few ’round-the-house things on my 28 Before 29 list… Including checking out some of the music recommended to me by my awesome swap partner, Bri.
Stay warm & toasty, all. Drink lots of tea!
How I do invitations. Apparently.
I haven’t hosted anything at my place in a while. Like, a long time. Two years ago, I had two friends over for a very low-key New Year’s Eve. (Side note: I hate New Year’s Eve.) Since then… A friend or two, here and there. The grandparents all came over and had a lot of dessert. You know — the usual.
BUT, it’s on my list of short-term goals to host a themed party. Parties are so hard. There’s all this planning, and then you never know who’s actually going to show up, because don’t act like you’ve never clicked “Attending” on a Facebook invite and then changed it and wrote some lame comment about, “Oh, something came up, I’m totally SO BUMMED” on the day of the party. You know you have. We ALL have. And you always forget how aggravating it is until you’re the host. And then, suddenly, it’s rude! and disrespectful! and unforgivable! (Which… It kinda is, anyway, right?)
So. Parties. And I mean. I’m an introvert. Big groups kind of make me twitch. But — it’s on the list. I have to do it. By March. Hear that sound? That’s the clock ticking. Also, DEATH IS COMING. …Yeah. I totally link those. Clocks suck.
Anyhow, I decided to put my big-girl panties on and have a Valentine’s Day party for some of my favorite girls. (I see you rolling your eyes at me.) (Yes I do.) (YES I DO.) (Also, I’ve explained my feelings on this holiday here.)
I gathered email addresses and wrote a letter preparing my potential guests, and then I created an online invitation. LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED, I say. So far, everyone who’s seen the invite has RSVP’d “yes.” Several are pretty excited. Already.
And since I’m obviously now a pro at the invitation process, let me show you, friends, how it’s done.
Ahem…
Hi, ladies.
So, as promised, here’s your invitation — to a party. With cupcakes and wine. Valentine’s Day-style. (Seriously, I can hear you groaning from here. Keep it down, woman.)
Anyway, there are several reasons why I am determined to make this evening happen, and why I will haunt you until you agree to attend:
1. There will be CUPCAKES. And WINE. Like… What’s bad about that?? Come on.
2. I have a list of 28 goals to complete before I turn 29. Hosting a themed party is one of them. My birthday is in March. I’m in a time-crunch, friends. Help a girl out.
3. I very recently broke up with my boyfriend, and I refuse to let Valentine’s Day remind me of that. (Didn’t know? Want to hear that story? See you on the 11th!)
4. Most importantly, I love you all, and I miss you all, and we don’t spend enough time together anymore. Let’s fix that. With alcohol. Oh, and CUPCAKES.
It goes on from there and includes such gems as:
So find a babysitter for your children or your boyfriend…
and…
Also, no cancelling the day-of, Facebook generation! (Be honest, we totally all do it.)
Use these techniques, ladies, and you will be POPULAR. And have ATTENDANCE at your PARTIES. …At least until the day-of, when everyone sends you a text message that says, “Oh, I”m totally SO BUMMED…”
Threats and guilt only really get you so far.
The 10-Pound Challenge
…is to eat 10 POUNDS OF BUTTER IN 10 MINUTES!
That’s a total lie. That’s not what the 10-Pound Challenge is at all. I’m sorry. Sometimes, I’m just 11 years old again. I can’t help it. I’m sorry.
Anyway! So the REAL 10-Pound Challenge is hosted by Erika at Newlyweds On A Budget, and is a far better idea than eating 10 pounds of butter in 10 minutes. Or, like, 100 minutes, because ew. Really. Ew.
I know, I know — losing weight?? LAME. I’m totally with you. Only thing is? I’ve been suffering from such silly and ridiculous stomach issues over the past couple of years that my previously-very-well-managed weight has been a little. Well. NOT really “a little,” if you know what I’m saying.
I don’t have a ton to lose, and I’m not crying “woe is me.” Don’t get me wrong. But I could stand to be paying more attention to my meal composition, and what better motivator than declaring it loudly and publicly, via the Internet? I AM GOING TO LOSE WEIGHT. …The threat of shame is simply extremely effective, friends.
Plus, there’s a really cute button. I’m a total sucker for a really cute button:
So the goal is to lose 10 pounds in 12 weeks. We’ll see how it goes!
Also, again? I’m TOTALLY CHEATING. This goal is on my 28 Before 29 list, AND my list of New Year’s resolutions. I am a MASTER goal-setter. And a Master cheater. WHAT UP. (A little Barney Stinson there for you.)
Throwback Thursday: That one time I got that Hollister sweatshirt
I was never a Hollister girl. For awhile, I did do the Abercrombie thing, but I was like 22, and Hollister just seemed way too young for me. Everything was short and tiny and vaguely sheer. I may have indulged in a clearance tshirt with silver thread and butterflies once. Maybe.
But there’s this one sweatshirt… It lives in my closet (or, more frequently, on the chair in my bedroom), and it says “Hollister,” all loud and proud. My coworker gave me this sweatshirt about five years ago. Her daughter had grown out of it. …Her 12 year old daughter.
So yes, friends. When I’m feeling particularly lazy about getting dressed and looking presentable, I, a 28 year-old woman, consistently rock a sweatshirt with an obnoxious brand name across the chest, in bright teal letters, that was a hand-me-down from a 12 year old girl.
I have no shame.
(I also still take bathroom mirror shots. Don’t judge.)
Mocha cupcakes with Oreo cookie frosting
Back in September, my adorable friend Sara turned 28. (She’s so many months behind me that I always hate her a little. Or I would, if she weren’t so awesome.) She had a party on a Saturday night, at a local vineyard, and it was seriously lovely… I decided to whip up a batch of cupcakes for the occasion, and they were a total hit.
…Though I will say that walking over wet grass in heels, with an open box full of cupcakes and a lot of drunk people saying, “Oh, HEY, you’re walking by my table, why don’t you put those cupcakes right down HERE.” is apparently something that tests the edges of my patience. Or, if nothing else, my balance.
Mocha Cupcakes with Oreo Cookie Frosting
Mocha Cupcakes (adapted from BrownEyedBaker.com)
Makes 12 cupcakes
Ingredients:
- 18 Oreo cookies
- chocolate chips!
- 1 1/3 c all-purpose flour
- 1/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 c milk
- 1/2 c strong brewed coffee
- 1 1/2 tsp espresso powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 c unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 c granulated sugar
- 1/2 c light brown sugar
- 1 egg
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 & fill a cupcake pan with your cupcake liners
- Mix the espresso powder into the brewed coffee until dissolved; set aside to cool
- Twist apart 6 of the Oreos. Resist dipping into milk and eating. Place one half of each cookie at the base of your cupcake liner. (Any cream should be facing up, toward you!)
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda & powder, and salt
- In a larger bowl, using an electric mixer (or a really strong arm with a spoon), beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy; add egg and beat until combined.
- In a tiny bowl, combine milk, coffee mixture and vanilla.
- Gradually add flour mixture and coffee mixture to butter/sugar/egg, alternating until all have been combined.
- Dump in chocolate chips. Don’t measure. Just pour. I mean, it’s chocolate, after all.
- Fill cupcake liners halfway.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
The delicious Oreo Cookie Frosting was taken from this recipe at BuddingBaketress.
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 c plus 2 tbsp whipping cream
- 3 tbsp powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 tbsp Oreo cookies, finely crushed
- One Oreo for the top of each cupcake
Instructions:
- Using an electric mixer, combine the whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until the whipping cream forms stiff peaks.
- Gently fold in the cookie crumbs with a spatula. (Or a spoon if, like me, you are constantly misplacing kitchen utensils.)
- Scoop the mixture into a pastry bag and pipe on top of the cupcakes.
- Stick an Oreo on top of each cupcake!
I think the cupcakes were a hit… What about you?
Ornament swap!
Yep, you read that correctly: the title of this post is “Ornament swap!” No need to check your calendars, friends; it is January 10th, and this post is painfully late.
It was a crazy holiday season. I was not feeling Christmas-y. Remember?
So before the holiday nuttiness kicked in, I signed up for a bloggers’ ornament swap, hosted by the lovely Kristine at The Best Is Yet to Come. I thought this was pretty much the best idea ever, and I rushed out and bought the sparkliest, most awesome ornament I could find. …And then I let it sit on my kitchen counter for about three weeks. Because I am a bum. And because what is with the holiday hours at the post office?? Seriously, could they be any less consistent??
Anyway.
I wandered downstairs the other day and was greeted by a happy package from Florida! Inside were these little gems…
…care of my swap partner, Brianna. (Seriously, read her blog. She is HILARIOUS.)
Sidebar: In her card, she made some mention of having bad time management skills, and I swear, I think I laughed for a full five minutes. Then I laughed my way over to email to tell her, “GIRL. Your time management skills LEARNED from MY time management skills, so no worries.” But I’m pretty sure it might’ve come out, “GIRL. You DO have bad time management skills.” Because I’ve also got some serious AWKWARD skills, friends. So, FYI. (Sorry, Brianna!)
But guys, I LOVE these ornaments. So much, in fact, that I don’t even think I’m going to wait until next Christmas to hang them up. I’m planning a redesign of my home office-area (also known as “just my desk”), and I think these would be an adorable and awesome reminder of my blog and the similarly awesome people I get to meet because of it.
So thank you again, Brianna and Kristine! You are the coolest gals.
For a fun treat, check out two of the other swap partners and their ornaments! Jamie & Breanna
jasper & the papasan
So… We got a new papasan cushion! After, you know, the old one was ruined by Jasper’s sheer panic over CK’s brief residence here. The old one had been a clearance find. It was like $15. My triumph was epic. EPIC. …As was my ensuing sadness.
Anyhow, I managed to score yet another clearance-priced cushion, and this one’s a little funkier, too. I love it so far, and have explained to my beloved furball that if a single drop of ANYTHING unsavory touches this cushion, I swear on everything holy that I will call Animal Control.
…Jas remains unconcerned.
ready for his close-up, mr. demille
I was taking some house shots yesterday when I was able to snap this:
Jasper Hale is as cute and cuddly as can be these days, especially since we all decided that CK, the adorable monster-kitten, would be happier living with our good friend Lisa. And playing with his own toys and sleeping on his own bed, instead of trying to take over Jasper’s. Jasper may or may not have ruined a papasan cushion in his quest to MAKE MY FRIEND GO HOME NOW, MAMA.
As well as recovering from his threatened sense of Alpha Male, poor Jas is just getting over a double bout of kitty pink-eye, and his mini asthma attacks have been acting up, too. He is right tired of the vet, please and thank you, and he would like another cat nip toy, WITH THE BELLS LEFT ON THIS TIME, stat.