To keep me warm

I've been on the lookout for a new hat to see me through the rest of winter and into early spring, and I'm seriously loving all of these from Urban Outfitters. I'm having the hardest time deciding on one to buy...!

Sweet Vacation

it's that time of year again, kids - february vacation! i'm off from work all this week, and i'm hoping to make it a pretty relaxing one. so far my list of things to do includes:

- purchase and read this entire book for my book club meeting next monday
- attend a showing of coraline 3D
- hair cut & possibly color
- devote an afternoon to watching south park: the movie with gina
- lunch date & catch up with a former colleague
- take & upload some pictures
- try out a new recipe
- rest. relax. repeat.

aahhh.




photos by danske, because i love everything she does

Bonnie and Clyde

Some people know that I have, and have always seemed to have, a major fascination with Bonnie and Clyde. I've only actually seen the movie once, but everytime I come across a documentary or TV special on the infamous duo, I can't look away - I have to watch. I know my obsession is a little macabre, but gun-slinging, bankrobbing, and cold-blooded murder aside, the fashion is timeless. I suppose this could partially explain why I have about fifteen cardigans hanging in my closet, why I have an entire dresser drawer just for scarves, and why I own these.

Long cardigans

Beret

pencil skirt

Shoes: Mary Janes or T-Straps

scarf

Feather Report

Aahh! What a fantastic, original idea for a blog! I love, love, love Feather...Fashion + Weather = Feather, the latest endeavor from The Lil Bee. She pulls together outfits & provides fashion inspiration based on the weather forecast for the next day. How lucky I am that she just happens to be living in New York, so our forecasts will always be similar!


Wednesday: Wintry mix to rain, high 35 degrees




Friday: Partly cloudy, afternoon snow shower, high 36 degrees




Monday: Sunshine and colder, high 43 degrees

Stopping to smell...

These roses came from my favorite flower shop in the area, Bella Fleur in Altamont, NY. During the warmer months, I try to stop in about once a week or so to bring some fresh flowers home, and it just wouldn't be Valentine's Day without a little bunch of roses to look at (and sniff). When I bought these on Friday, I also needed to buy flowers for someone else, and I ended up with a huge bouquet of pink tulips and sunny daffodils - Spring really is on its way!

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I'm on vacation all this week. It's going to be great.*

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.Love.List.

In honor of the day, I've put together a list of some of the things I'm currently loving. Enjoy!

this amazing dress

this cardi

these earrings

this camera

this jacket

this necklace

this tunic

these boots



everything in this shop



this top

Dessert: Red Velvet Cupcakes

I just had to post this recipe today, via design*sponge

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Ann’s Red Velvet Cake (or cupcakes)

Preheat oven at 350

1 oz. red food coloring
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. margarine
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cup cake flour
1 scant tsp. salt
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. soda
1 Tbsp. vinegar

Mix coloring and cocoa together until smooth and set aside until needed. Do not stir.

-Cream together butter, margarine and sugar. ( be sure to beat the mixture long enough…… the butter, margarine and sugar should look white and creamy )

-Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.

-Add cocoa mixture and mix until well blended.

-Sift together two times: flour and salt.

-Add alternately with buttermilk and mix well.

-Place 1 tsp. soda on cake batter, then add 1 Tbsp. vinegar. Mix until well blended.

-Pour into 2 well greased and floured 9″ cake pans

-Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

-Cool and frost with French cream icing.

French Cream Icing

1 c. milk
6 Tbsp. flour
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. margarine
1 c. fine granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

-Make a thickening of 1 c. milk and flour. ( blend with hand mixer ) Cook until thick but not clumpy, more like a thicker sauce.

-Beat well to be sure it is very smooth. Take pan off heat and set in a pan of ice water to chill it.

-Cream together butter, margarine and sugar for 15 - 20 minutes. Add thickening and beat another 10 minutes. Add vanilla.

** Icing needs to be very cold. You may want to put it in the freezer for a bit to thicken and cool it.

Note: If you choose to make cupcakes, this recipe yields about 36 of them.