11.27.2011

Brought to you by Bubble My Licorice!

*Here is a deliciously sweet recipe from the fun girls over at Bubble My Licorice. Thanks again for wanting to share this ladies! It's a perfect way to spend a chilly morning at home...
 
~Uber Delicious Cinnamon Rolls~

We absolutely LOVE cinnamon rolls!
But they seemed kinda hard to make so we never actually tried, until we found this pretty easy recipe and managed to make our own and they turned out Delicious!

Ahhhhhh it makes me feel hungry again!
      Look at it! You know you want to make some too... right?
Fear no more! We decided to share with you the recipe
yes! we are THAT selfless...


Gather your materials!

-for the cinnamon bun dough-
> cup of full fat milk(at room temperature)
> 1/4 cup warm water
> 1 teaspoon of vanilla powder
> 2 beaten eggs (at room temperature)
> 1/2 teaspoon salt
> 1/2 cup of butter(at room temperature)
> 3/4 cup of white sugar
> 5 cups all purpose flour
>  3 teaspoons of yeast

-for the stuffing-
> 1/2 cup of butter softened
> 1 cup of Brown sugar
> 5 teaspoons of cinnamon
> 1 cup of walnuts or 1 cup of chocolate drops or whatever you prefer to add :)

-for the icing-
> 250 grams of icing sugar
> 1/4 cup of butter
>1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder
> 4 teaspoons of milk ( you might need more you don't want the mixture thick)

  

Add the ingredients for the dough in the mixer with the following order to make it nice and soft:
First add the butter with the sugar for a while. then add the water and the milk while slowly adding the flour. add the yeast the eggs and the vanilla (and keep adding the rest of the flower)

Add some flour on your table (or wherever you want to mold the dough) and mold it for about 8 min
then put it in a bowl and wrap it and let it sit for about 20 min
  
Start molding the dough again and try to shape it into a rectangle. 40x60cm.
 Now get the materials for the stuffing!













Mix them in a bowl. Except the butter.












Spread the butter on the surface of the flatten dough. It's easiest using the back of a spoon.









Then spread the stuffing evenly on the dough and start rolling!














Slice the roll. It should make about 12 pieces.







Then coat a pan with butter and place your cinnamon rolls inside.











Press the cinnamon rolls down a bit.












Cover them with plastic wrap and leave them aside for about 1 to 1 and a half hours.

Then preheat the oven at 350 degrees(F)
Bake them for 20-30 minutes until they are a bit brown.






Take them out of the oven when they look like this!



Awww, the smell is heavenly!











Prepare the Icing.
Mix all the ingredients in a little pan at low temperature until the mixture turns out nice and even.





Pour the icing on the cinnamon rolls.













Let them soak in the icing for 5 minutes and then take them out.








And Serve Them!
^w^
ENJOY


11.25.2011

happy friday...

I just wanted to share a couple of my favorite/maybe slightly nerdy outfits from this incredible crazy week...

Skirt: thrifted & altered a bit by me
Shirt: Old Navy (men's side; they have great shirts sometimes)

Skirt: handmade
Ghost World shirt: Indigofeet on etsy

11.24.2011

this one's for you...

Here it goes...I ordered this "heart on my sleeve" sweater from Forever21 online. It's been my favorite sweater since it arrived! I knew that the stripes are not what most people would consider "flattering" on someone who isn't thin, but I ordered it anyway. How could I not? Look at it..I adore it!
Anyway, the point of this was...I can't stand being confined to only wearing what is "flattering" on my body. No one should be confined to that.
I love this sweater.
When it arrived, it was tunic length. Which would have looked great if I wore skinny dark jeans, but I don't own pants. In order for it to fit well with my skirts I shortened it by taking out a couple of white stripes. If you look closely you can see it. Well, now I feel so comfortable in it and it matches pretty much any skirt! I think it looks great and I feel it fits my personality perfectly...so guess what? I've decided. It IS flattering!

11.20.2011

ok...enough notes to myself...

I knew that my November would be full of longer work hours, crowds of people shopping for the holidays, fighting against those crowds of people so that I can do some shopping, weather so cold I haven't stopped shaking for weeks, and shrinking account balances. I just didn't think I would be so tired or...stuck. I haven't had a chance to start or finish any of the projects I have lined up on my "she's crafty list"  because I'm just stuck! Wake up, work, shop, work, cook dinner, wrap, clean, sleep. That's how it's been for days and days. I have to snap out of it. The work part I can't really get out of and I know I'll just have to wait until after the holidays for my hours to get back to normal, but for now this is really just a reminder to myself to try! Even when I want to roll up into a ball and sleep under ten blankets because I'm too tired to move.
Lilly, 
Tuesday is your day off. You know you want to 
finish those projects. I think you should do it! 
You'll love making them and love the outcomes even more!
Just about one more day. 
Also, remember you got to go to the movies on Friday? That was a fantastic break!
Plus, aren't you glad you held on to those old Polaroids?
Love, Lilly.


11.08.2011

a left-over can of pumpkin...

The goodness I made with a random can of pumpkin...

Oh it came out great! I just added the can of pumpkin to a fail-safe quick bread recipe. It had all the fall flavors...nutmeg, pumpkin, cinnamon & chocolate chips ( of course raisins or walnuts would fit in nicely)
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 vegetable oil
- 1 can pumpkin
        (mixed well with a wire whisk before adding the dry ingredients)
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- about 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
            (all stirred into the liquid mixture just enough for all the ingredients to be wet)

* I love how bundt cakes look, but this could go into 2-3 loaf pans or in a muffin/cupcake tin.
* 350 oven for about 65 min about 50 minutes for cupcakes.
* We loved how it tasted. It came out super moist and full of Autumn! Of course you could add more or less of any spices you'd like.

11.07.2011

I love velvet...

I had plans to do some holiday shopping this morning, but I was just too cozy watching movies while huddled under 4 blankets so I decided to stay in and add a little fun to one of my velvet dresses. I've thrifted so many over the years and so I like to add a little something special to each dress....a cute collar, a vintage bow, some extra buttons, or in this case a felt cat! also, my garden is looking super lush and green because of all the rain here in Washington, but it's just too cold to have a photo shoot outdoors! so sorry for the poor indoor lighting... I'll have to get better at it.



 click 'em for better views...

11.03.2011

oh velvet...

This is the dress I wear when I want to feel comfortable and have no idea what the day's plan is. I figure if I wear this I can always dress it up or down for any situation. Oh when I first saw those pearl and gold buttons on such a soft, velvet dress at the thrift store...that was it! I had to have it, even if it looked a bit matronly with puffed sleeves (not the cute little ruffles but the terrible 80's sleeves that rise just short of your ears!), the less than flattering neckline and the extremely long length. After a little alteration to the neckline, hem and sleeves; along with the added bow made from some vintage material...it's perfect! or at least I think so.
So, in a rush to leave the house on one of our few days off together, I threw this on with a heavier cardigan and stockings. We ended up just shopping around and eating Thai food downtown. It was a much needed day of catching up...

          click 'em for a better view...