Red Velvet

 Happy Birthday!

It was my dearest friends'' birthday this past week, so I treated her to a little red velvet goodness. I wanted to try a new icing technique, so I consulted one of my friends from home who is pretty much Martha Stewart's clone and she gave me some tips via the baking tool company Wilton. I think I got it down now.

1. crumb the baked cake, which pretty much means ice a thin layer first so the crumbs don't get into the icing

2. use a Wilton's 789 icing tip for a thick application

3. use a slanted icing knife to even out the icing

As for the cake, I used Bakerella's recipe, where buttermilk (ohhh yeah) is always the key ingredient and the Sprinkles cream cheese Icing Recipe.

8 oz cold cream cheese
1 stick unsalted butter (firm, but not cold)
1/8 tsp salt
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp vanilla
milk (as needed)

Beat cream cheese, butter and salt on med-low speed until smooth and creamy (about 2-3 mins). Reduce speed to low and slowly add the powdered sugar and beat until incorporated. Add vanilla and beat until just incorporated. Should be creamy and dense, like ice cream (HELL YES). If necessary, add milk, 1 tsp at a time if frosting doesn't have a spreadable consistency. I used 1.5 of this recipe to cover the whole cake.

I also wanted to make her a cute little name banner because I think colored icing letters are so last season's pinterest board.  I used colored scrapbooking paper, cake pop sticks, super glue and a pencil and ruler for measuring. Otherwise, the photos should show how I made it! And then ate it!

Beauty Roundup

I pretty much consider myself a girly girl when it comes to nearly everything except for my beauty routine. I use generic shampoo from Whole Foods and the same face wash my mom uses out of laziness of researching something that might be better. So I figured that it was time to grow up a little bit and get some big girl beauty routines integrated into my life. Here's some recent big girl hair, beauty and body updates. 

HAIR: I've been going to the Aveda teaching salon on Clark, where students are only allowed to charge $16 for a hair cut. It's just been so hard for me to justify anything more expensive with trying to awkwardly get out of the short hair stage. Luckily, I seriously bumped myself up in my hair world by visiting Adam, at Fringe Salon in Wicker Park. And I will continue to visit. 

And a few more looks for your viewing pleasure. 

 

 

Pin curls set for the "Hollywood Glam" look that I was going for

Side sock bun that my friend and I finagled

 MAKE-UP: A friend and I went to Saks on Michigan Ave to do a test make-up run for the wedding that we were planning on attending. Luckily, one of Nars' national make-up artists was in town for an event so we got some extra special face treatment. And also a bill that was way more than I anticipated to spend! I'm also a little behind on the bright lip bandwagon, but better late than never, right? The Chanel Ultra wear series is the most amazing lipstick/gloss that I've ever owned. I literally apply it once in a night and swear I need rubbing alcohol to get it off when I get home.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Wild Orchid, NARS Schiap , Chanel Ruby Lite Ultra Wear

 BODY: Last, but definitely not least. The longest three days of my life occurred during a recent juice cleanse that I decided to put myself through. It was the hungriest that I have ever been, but after you get through the agony of the initial shock, it's not too bad. The first two days integrate fruit, so the juice actually tastes pretty yummy, the last, not so much. I spoke with a few ladies who lost a few el-bees, but me? Not so much. I'd probably do it again though.

Juicer's Three Day Cleanse
*Three days of juices, eight ounces every hour for eight hours, lots of water in between & protein with veggies after 6pm

Day 1: Fresh 7 Liver & Kidney Detox
Blend 6 apples, 6 beets, 7 large carrots, 7 pieces celery, 4 cucumber & 3 juiced lemons
Day 2: Blend 6 apples, 7 celery, 4 whole cucumbers, 3 handful of ginger, 3 handful of parsley & 3 handfuls of spinach
Day 3: Blend 6 beets, 7 large carrots, 7 pieces of celery, 4 whole cucumber, 3 handfuls of ginger, 3 juiced lemons, 4 handfuls of lettuce, 3 handfuls of parsley & 4 handful of kale

Birthday Boy

I love celebrating birthdays, especially mine. Hey, I'm an only child, what can I say? Unfortunately Sean doesn't share my spoiled ways and didn't want any part in a huge birthday celebration this year. This could have also been a result of my failed attempts to get us a reservation at the highly coveted Schwa (yeah attempts, I called literally every other day for a month), but who needs a nine course BYOB meal at an exclusive restaurant that everybody has a hard time getting reservations to.......

Over. Rated. Anyway.

Instead, my darling Sean requested that we hang out at home and cook ourselves an uber delicious steak dinner from Fox & Obel, one of our favorite little local gourmet grocery stores. Fox & Obel is just the most warm, inviting and cozy spot....which sounds weird when describing a grocery store....but I am just in love with this place. Here's what they have to say about themselves:
"Our inspiration is drawn from old-world markets of Paris, Milan or Lisbon to the stores of New York and San Francisco.
We carry the best of everything. Just-caught fish, well-hung meat, mighty coffee, sinful cakes, fine artisan foods of every kind, the freshest of fruit and vegetables.
When you walk into Fox & Obel Market, you step into something special and no matter where in the culinary landscape your interests lie, the ingredients you need are here. If you live for food, your life is not complete until Fox & Obel becomes part of it."
And talk about good timing, Groupon offered a $50 for $100 coupon a few days before the actual day. So I used the extra monies for a half dozen cupcakes from Sprinkles. Back to dinner-we bought the 21 Day Dry Aged Prime Bone-In Rib Eye Steak, totaling $73 (thank you Groupon), and cooked up the recipe from David Chang's Momofuku cookbook. Can I say amaaaaaaaze?! Two cast iron skillets, one stick of butter, a few cloves of garlic, a few springs of thyme and some elbow grease is all you need for a gourmet meal. Who's Schwa?

All I have to say is that if you like to eat, you better like to cook, and if you like to cook, you better buy the best stuff!









Happy Birthday Sean!

Year One

I can't believe that one year ago, today, I left my beloved San Diego for the Second City! I have grown to love Chicago and can finally call it my humble home. The last year has been quite the experience to say the least: from leaving San Diego and driving through Vegas, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore and finally arriving in Chicago to a new job, new friends, luxury and vintage shopping that can easily make the richest go broke, the absolute best food spots, festivals and street fairs up the wazoo, quick flights to NYC and visitors, lots of visitors. One year successfully lived, and hopefully the years to come only get better!

[San Diego will always be my first love]

[My crazy year via IPhone Photo Album]
[Yellowstone][Mt Rushmore][Chicago welcomes us][FOOD: Arami Sushi, Glazed Bacon donut from Nightwood, Hot Dougs, Bonsoiree, afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel homemade Cinnabons]
[SHOPPING: One of my favorite dresses from Akira, winter FUR, home goods, Randolph Market][AROUND TOWN: Ferris Bueller night at the Art Institute, Millenium Park Music Mondays, Wicked, The Bulls, Lollapalooza, House party celebrations, St. Pattys Day][CHANGE OF SEASONS: Fall and Winter][Quick NYC getaways][VISITORS: Mama and various special friends]