LOVING these colors and silhouettes and COLORS (Gucci Spring 2011Ready-to-Wear)

 I cut this look out from a newspaper article a while ago, and still look at the image everyday for inspiration! Absolutely my favorite color combination I have seen in a very long time, and this is such a clean, sleek silhouette.

 one of my favorite combinations!

 favorite color ever = this royal blue. If you know me, almost my entire closet is blue.

 this fringe is fantastic! also, every time I pick out an outfit, blue and orange work their way into it.

Gucci Spring 2011 Ready to Wear

chocolate-peanutbutter frozen banana bites - could this possibly be the best and healthiest dessert EVER?

FROZEN BANANA BITES

What you'll need . . .

• 2 large bananas
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
• Unsweetened coconut flakes

1. Set out a large plate or bowl with a piece of parchment or wax paper on it.
2. Cut up the bananas into good-sized chunks. Each banana should give you around 5 to 6 pieces.
3. Heat the peanut butter and chocolate chips in the microwave on high for about a minute. Then stir until smooth.
4. Dip the banana pieces in the chocolate-peanut butter mixture. Lay them out leaving some space between them on the parchment/wax paper. Then when you've "covered" them all, use the remaining mixture to spoon over the tops (for even more chocolate-y goodness).
5. Then sprinkle the unsweetened coconut flakes on top. Transfer to the freezer for about an hour until hardened.
6. You can enjoy them like this (but they really aren't frozen yet -- and when they're frozen, the banana tastes like vanilla ice cream) . . . I suggest then covering with some plastic wrap (or really you can do all of this in some kind of Rubbermaid container) and let freeze overnight.

via neverhomemaker.com 

flaming strawberries on chocolate cupcakes - wait - FLAMING strawberries?!

okay, this is quite possibly the most innovative and genius and creative and science-chem-nerdy dessert that I have ever come across! The strawberries are hollowed out and filled with a bit of liquor, then ignited with a match - crazzzzzy! While the recipe is offered in all seriousness, the warnings that sprinklebakes  gives are pretty hilarious: do not eat the flaming strawberries, make sure the strawberries are leak-proof because you are setting the alcohol on fire, etc.

 

ALSO, sign me up for sound vibration paint sculpture class please!

 

"The creative studio dentsu, teamed up with photographer linden gledhill to create this series of paint sculptures using sound vibrations. The series was part of a campaign for canon’s pixma ink printer brand. the photographs and videos begin by wrapping a membrane around a small speaker. Ink drops were placed on this membrane and the speaker was turned on. Once it began to vibrate the ink begins to jump up and down. High-speed video cameras and still cameras were used to capture this including circling around the sculptures to see them from all angles. Experimenting with different sounds and frequencies created the various pieces."

http://www.dentsu.com

absolutely CANNOT WAIT FOR ITALY next fall !

These pictures have just made me realize how excited I am to study abroad in Italy next fall! traveling, eating amazing Italian food, going to art museums, browsing little shops off the beaten path, testing every single gelato flavor, making sketches in the piazzas...the list goes on and on and on!

via funzug.com

ALSO:

 

such a cool take on suede! also LOVE the bright sky-blue belt and the unexpected lime/olive boots...

via

the Fashionist

what a stylish couple + new streetstyle blog that I L-O-V-E !

I have always been a huge fan of The Sartorialist streetstyle blog - it is a daily stop for me! So imagine my surprise and excitement when I found this new and incredibly beautiful streetstyle photography blog called the Fashionist.

This pictures seems to really capture the motion and chic-ness of a fashionable couple in action. It makes me want to fabricate a story about their lives: Where are they going? Why is he carrying a hot water bottle as a purse? Did they plan the ketchup and mustard combination? What type of feathers is she wearing? How long did it take him to grow that salt and pepper beard? Do they wander the streets of Milan fashionably on a daily basis?

spicy orange crescent cookies - now doesn't that sound interesting?

I was just looking at one of my favorite food blogs, behind the skillet, and came across these sweet/tart and spicy cookies (crazy right?). I really really want to experiment with this unusual combination and maybe even come up with other combos...basil and lemon cookies? mint and strawberry? oregano and lime? thyme and apple?

anyway, here is the recipe!

Spicy Orange Crescents
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
1/2 tsp Orange Extract
1 Tsp Orange Zest
2 cups Cake Flour (Germany: type 405)
1/2 cup finely chopped Almonds
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
extra Powdered sugar for rolling (a good cup at least)

In a mixing bowl, beat butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.   Add extract and zest and mix until well blended.

In another bowl, sift together flour and spices, and stir in chopped almonds.  Add this dry mixture to the butter mixture and beat until all well blended.

Form about 1 Tbs of dough into crescent shapes (roll into a log between hands then bend slightly) and place on a parchment-lined cookies sheets.  Bake at 375 F/ 190 C for 10 to 12 minutes or until slightly browning/golden on the edges. 

Cool for a few minutes on sheets then transfer to cooling racks.  When just very slightly warm, gently roll the cookies in powdered sugar to coat.  Return to racks and allow to cool completely. 

my Building and Bag

 

I was walking home from my internship at the museum and decided to document how BE-A-UTIFUL Currier looks in the late afternoon...absolutely love living in an old(er) brick building, despite the occasional spiders in the basement or leaks (ah!). 

Speaking of the museum, below is the bag that all the ladies who I work with are literally in love with! I just recently started using it because I no longer need to lug a backpack around everyday...who knew that something as commonplace as pop-tops could be turned into a slightly edgy and completely unique bag, with the help of a little string?

{my pop-top bag!}

my bed(dorm)room + collage

 

my bed(dorm)room wall and corner! even though I decorated this wall in the beginning of the year, today I finally took photos and never really realized how it looked as a whole. somehow flattening and minimizing a corner of my room made it more of a collage / piece of art to me than ever. This was also inspired by a collage-making session earlier today when I made this: 

 

very inspiring short documentary featuring 'the sartorialist'

I was really captured by the simplicity of his view on fashion / photography / art...this made me think of his sort of career in a different light.

so I just really want to have the ability to work red leather pants!

 

via because i'm addicted

vanilla salt truffles!

A few days ago, my mom and I took a truffle-making class at a local cooking school, which was absolutely fantastic! Both of us got to make our own batch of at least 30 truffles (perhaps 40?) from scratch. We started with a bowl of melted butter (I think half a stick? exact recipe will be put up later...), 64% dark chocolate discs, and about a tablespoon of dark cocoa powder. Next, the instructors gave us 1/3 cup of HOT cream to pour over our mixture, which we then mixed after waiting a few minutes to let our bowl's contents settle. I then added my vanilla (1 tsp) and salt (1/2 tsp) to my mixture, an unusual yet surprisingly delicious combination. This was the formation of the ganache, the basis of these truffles. Next, I took the pastry-chef route and filled my pastry tube with the ganache in order to squeeze little swirls of chocolate onto my cookie sheet. This proved harder (but more fun) than anticipated...my mom went for the 'melon-baller' route and formed perfect vanilla-cinnamon half-spheres. Next, we refrigerated our truffles. After this, we were able to coat our truffles in either cocoa powder or melted chocolate (I went for the former, my mom went for the latter), and refrigerate them. And that was it! An AMAZING experience.

loving these artsy fashion photos...

from a practical yet gorgeous winter-y purple skirt, leather jacket, and classic boots ensemble (which i will attempt to channel this winter...) to the byzantine-inspired chanel snapshot and an artsy fashion shoot featuring christian louboutin's god-daughter, these photos are absolutely stunning.

about to bake some Christmas cookies - and wishing I had time to try these holiday macarons!

while I am making traditional Christmas sugar cookies (to be frosted, ofcourse), these macarons seem like the perfect nontraditional alternative! maybe I'll try these next times...and wowwww how is the color so vibrant and concentrated?

finals hiatus - will post after tomorrow!

spiced cocoa roasted almonds!

these just look amazing! and also remind me of walking down Navy Pier and stopping by the roasted nuts stands, smelling the delicious cinnamon before actually reaching the stand...except these are cocoa roasted!!

courtesy of foodgawker.com

white snow + dreams of fluorescent and saturated colors

 

with all this snow falling lately, I just can't help but be attracted to contrasting saturated and beautiful colors, both in clothing and living spaces...

via because i'm addicted and theselby.com

German Apple Pancakes (!) make me think of snowy Sundays

I absolutely LOVE German apple pancakes...they remind of me of chilly and snowy days spent inside, all bundled up and waiting for my Teta to whip up this favorite breakfast.

German Apple Pancake

serves 4-6

3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3 extra large eggs

1 cup whole milk

1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

5 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, quartered, and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices

1/4 + 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

confectioners' sugar for dusting

Adjust the oven rack to the upper-middle position.  Preheat the oven to 500ºF.

In a large bowl combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.  In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry and whisk until there are no lumps.  

Heat a 11.5-inch oven proof non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the butter and melt.  Add the apples, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Using a heat proof rubber spatula, sauté the apples until they are golden brown, stirring frequently, about 10-15 minutes.  Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice.  Stir to combine.

Quickly pour the batter evenly around the apples. Place the skillet in the oven.  Reduce the temperature to 425ºF and bake until the pancake edges are brown and puffed, about 18-20 minutes.

Using oven proof mitts to protect your hands from the hot handle, remove the skillet from the oven.  Loosen the edges with the heat proof rubber spatula and invert the pancake onto a serving platter.  Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve warm.  Enjoy!

courtesy of foodgawker.com

a few gorgeous fashion photos...

 

LOVE the mix of patterns / textures / colors behind the scenes at the proenza schouler show; also, the absolutely over-the-top fur collar and yellow dress peaking out combination, and the brilliant royal blue tapered pants! 

via my new favorite fashion blog, because i'm addicted.