A New Favorite

If Pinterest has done anything other than taking time away from my daily life, it has taken me to a lot of really cool new blogs and websites that I probably never would have found otherwise. This is also a great way for people to find your blog. This happened to me yesterday. I was looking on Pinterest when I stumbled upon a new blog, Dear Lillie. You have probably heard about it and I'm probably way behind but it was too cute not to share. I love her style, her shop and her little girls are adorable!

I could go on forever on the photos!

Spring Wreath's

Spring is in the air. My sycamore tree is getting some leaves and my daffodils are getting ready to bloom! If you have been on Etsy lately, you have probably seen all the pretty wreath's. Here are just a few of my favorites. Click on image to purchase. 

Chocolate Cake

I made the best chocolate cake this week for a friend's birthday. If you want to impress your friends with a homemade cake, this will not disappoint. I searched high and low for a good recipe and settled with none other than the Barefoot Contessa's Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. 

Source

Ingredients

• Butter, for greasing the pans
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cups good cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup buttermilk, shaken
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
• Chocolate Buttercream, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 8-inch x 2-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

Place 1 layer, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.

Chocolate Frosting:

• 6 ounces good semisweet chocolate (recommended: Callebaut)
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 extra-large egg yolk, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder

Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. Dissolve the coffee powder in 2 teaspoons of the hottest tap water. On low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Don't whip! Spread immediately on the cooled cake.

It was delicious. I think next time I want to try and make an ice cream cake using this recipe as the base.  Have a great weekend!

A New Project

I've been trying to think of a new project to take on. One that I can do when the little one naps and something that I'll be proud of when it is finished. My problem is that when I start something I like to finish it that same day. So I'll have a great project, finish it and then....what next? So I've been searching high and low for a project that will take a while, something that I'm interested in, and something I can actually do. I don't have too many other projects at this very moment to complete around the house so I was a bit stumped when it came to finding something. After much thought I think I have decided to start quilting again. Yes, again. You see, one of my first jobs was teaching sewing.  It will also take me much longer than one day so I think it will be the perfect project. Now I just have to decide what kind of quilt to make. There are so many options out there. 

Cluck Cluck Sew

Cluck Cluck Sew

Oh, and you really need to check out the darling poufs my friend Brittany now has in her Shop. They are to die for! If I didn't already have a family room full of furniture I would definitely have her make one for me!

Being a Mom

This week I've read a couple of good posts on being a mom. The ups, the downs, the good the bad. You an read them here and here. And for all you mom's out there, I thought this was a good little reminder. 

Easy Meal {Lettuce Wraps}

I've fallen behind on posting a new recipe each week, I'll try to get back on track. This recipe is my go-to for an easy week night meal. It tastes great and is super healthy. Enjoy!

Super Easy Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:

1 package ground chicken or extra lean turkey

3 large carrots, sliced

1/4 cup pine nuts

1 T fresh ginger

1 clove garlic

1 bunch cilantro, chopped

2 t oil

1 can sliced water chestnuts

1/4 cup Soy Yaki or teriyaki sauce of your choice

Lettuce (iceberg or romaine)

Directions:

Saute oil, meat, ginger and garlic in large skillet. Saute a couple of minutes until meat starts to brown. Add carrots, pine nuts, water chestnuts and teriyaki sauce. Continue to saute until meat is completely cooked. Once meat is cooked throughly, add chopped cilantro. 

Serve with lettuce. 

Valentine's Day

I remember when Valentine's Day was all about picking out the cutest Valentine's to give class mates, making your Valentine's box the week before with all the doilies you could find, making sure not to give any boy you kind of liked a Valentine that said "I Love You" or "You're Hot" (yes I remember picking out what each Valentine said to each person) and being totally embarrassed in the 5th grade for receiving a very large Hershey's Kiss on my desk from Tim Long. I remember it all...the horrible  and awkward Valentine's Day middle school dances, the "singing" Valentine's that people could anonymously purchase  in which you would be serenaded in the middle of class. It was awful. 

So Valentine's Day is tomorrow and now that I have a husband and daughter whom I love I want to do something special for them. I've been inspired by these special Valentine's ideas:

martha stewart

Nic Nac Noodle

haniela's food and photography

Baked to Perfection

Happy Valentine's Day!

My Guilty Pleasure {The Bachelor}

Ok, so my guilty pleasure right now is the Bachelor. I know, not Emmy winning television but it is highly entertaining. My husband actually watches it with me {which is only one of the things I love about him}. This season hasn't been amazing but I'm not going to stop watching. I really liked Ben when he was on last season but this season he is getting more and more dull. He still is pretty cute though. 

My least favorite {who apparently he picks} is Courtney. There is just something about this girl that rubs me the wrong way. 

And hope the spoilers are wrong and that he ends up with

Kacie B.

 

 

And in case you were wondering, my husband likes Emily. Largely because of her sense of humor. 

That was a pretty good joke about the Chief the other night.  

 

Do you have any shows that you don't like to admit you watch? I have quite a few and will happily 

admit I'm pretty excited for the Real Housewives of OC season that started on Tuesday. 

Nerd Quirk's

I saw these online the other day and thought they were too funny/cute not to post. Some remind me of myself, others my sister, my best friend, my mom. The list goes on. They are all written by a 15 year old girl who wanted the Nerds to be heard. You can see all of them here.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Harajuku at Target

I love Target, and can rarely get out without spending at least $100. They have done such a great job at featuring some great designers. Currently, Gwen Stephani's designs for Harajuku are in the baby section. There are some really cute things. I've heard that Target is selling out quite fast so hopefully you can get your hands on some!

For the little girls:

For the little boys:

A nice break

As you may have noticed, I didn't post at all this past week. We were feeling a little under the weather and I decided I needed a little break from posting. I was able to catch up on some much needed organizing, cleaning and re-arranging. Now that things are pretty much back in order and we are feeling almost 100% better I'll be posting like usual.