M.I.L.C.K.

Named MILCK for the items its meant to hold:

 money, ID, lipstick, cell phone, & keys, this Ela clutch is an easy "going out" bag. 

You don't need much else to go out besides MILCK.

In an array of colours, you're sure to find one (or five) that appeal to you. As DailyCandy stated, "We expect nothing less from co-founding couple Ela Kowalewska (a former Hermès and Burberry PR rep) and Martin Aldorsson (former Havaianas brand manager)."

My favourites? The cobalt blue, taupe stud, purple, hot pink, coral... I could go on & on. 

Brown Sugar Blues

When I should be studying for my Geography exam, I (no surprise) found myself baking. Development, Agriculture, & Industry OR Brown Sugar Blueberry Cookies?

 For my mum and probably my brainy brother (unless he's eating the cookies- not baking them), they'd choose studying. Booorringgg. What better way to say, "bring it on, GEO exam" than with a fresh batch of these delicious cookies?

 I've made these numerous times. In fact, for Mum's birthday instead of cake, she wanted these cookies. That's how unexplainably fantastic they are. Jessica over at How Sweet It Is really hit the nail on this one. The first time I made these, only about 3-4 of the cookies made it to their destination (dinner with friends). I just couldn't help but STUFF MY FACE with these cookies. 

I baked a batch while my sister-in-law was in town to take back to my brother. I got a phone call not too long after she returned saying, "Sis, those blueberry cookie/scone things were awesome. They're the best thing I've had that you've made." Now I know you don't know my brother, but he can't resist the majority of my baked goods. And I live off of compliments from him and my sister (in law) about my baking. Needless to say, his voicemail made my day. Today's batch is going to the RCC Kids Town Hall, so if you go to RCC, you know you want to come to the meeting tonight!

Blueberry Cookies

(only slightly adapted from How Sweet It Is)

makes 12-15 cookies

· 1 stick butter, at room temperature

· 3/4 cup turbinado sugar

· 1 egg

· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

· 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

· 1/4 teaspoon salt

· 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

· 2 teaspoons cinnamon

· 1 tablespoon whole milk

· 3/4 cup fresh blueberries (note: I've made these with frozen and fresh, and fresh is definitely the best)

Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Add egg and vanilla and mixing for 2 minutes. With mixer on low speed, stir in flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon. Mix until dough comes together. Add in milk. Fold in blueberries gently with a spatula. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375°F. 

Remove dough from fridge and roll into 1 1/2 inch balls. Bake for 10-13 minutes. Cool on wire racks. 

Spring Cleaning

The most frequent ways I procrastinate are getting lost in my computer and cleaning. When I'm going through my room, I'll find random things that should've been thrown away ages ago...  

i.e. packaging from J.Crew.

Thursday night I was up until 4AM just making a huge mess in my room. I found an old LG phone. 

I got excited to sell it when I saw prices on Amazon were $70+. I visited multiple "sell your old cell phone" websites and my best offer was $8. Depressing. 

It is officially spring for us here in Florida. Time for some Spring Cleaning, anyone? Check out College Prepster's Spring Cleaning Checklist:

(source: College Prepster)

 I brought out all my spring clothes and packed away my boots and wool skirts. I could not be happier to wear J.Crew chino shorts on a regular basis. Helllo springtime!

(photo from breakfast at toast)

One of my goals this spring is to make a 101 Things in 1001 Days list inspired by the oh so stylish Mackenzie Horan. Check out this gal's blog and her {new} boutique! Thanks to Sweet Lemon Magazine for doing a spread on her, as that's how I found her blog! I.Love.It. 

New life goal: Be More Like Mackenzie Horan.

Gluten, Schmuten. This Bread is LOVE.

Have you ever made a pull apart bread?

(photo from Joy the Baker)

For a handful of weeks, I have been drooling over Joy the Baker’s Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread. Just look at the pictures – you'll want to take it out of the screen and eat it RIGHT.NOW. 

(photo from Joy the Baker)

Clearly I don’t have much patience… I want what I want and I want it now. As you will soon realize, I am a cinnamon fiend. It’s the best spice God created. No exaggerations. I put it on everything I can… Cinnamon toast is my breakfast 70% of the time. I toss cinnamon with my sweet potato fries, sprinkle it in butternut squash soup, and sprinkle it on yoghurt. Anything that can have cinnamon on it will as far as I am concerned. So, when I stumbled upon this recipe – I knew I had to make it. 

My mum was being quite impatient – so I didn’t get a picture post-baking, but here’s the dough before I stuck it in the oven. 

I know - I haven't perfected the "making it look absolutely delicious" skill quite yet, but I'm working on it. And for the record, it IS absolutely delicious.

Due to mum’s lack of patience, I didn’t bake the bread for the entire time the recipe called for. The edges were a golden brown and the center was cooked, but still gooey & yeasty. So, if you’re not a yeasty (ew) gooey bread person, I’d say keep it in the oven until the top of the bread is a golden brown and not just the edges. Twas yummy, but I would have preferred if it had been a tad more cooked through. 

Cinnamon.Sugar.Bread. life doesn’t get much better. You know you want to make it.

So go on over to Joy the Baker and make the Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread.

stay tuned...

This past week was spring break. So wild & out of control was I...in the kitchen, people, c'mon! I had some unsuccessful as well as some relatively successful concoctions/recipes this week. Stay tuned, as they most certainly will be posted...

Look at how lazy the frathound was over break...couldn't even stand up to eat. 

Clearly he had way.too.much.fun at Dogwood Dog Park with his buddy, Camo.

Camo's "sister", Allie, made the dogs homemade treats for our play-date! Even picky eater Dutch liked them. In fact, he gobbled up the crumbs in the container...which I know you're thinking, "SG, dogs eat crumbs. It's a fact of life." Well, folks, not with my pup. He leaves crumbs from treats he eats all over the rugs, but not these! I'm going to get the recipe Allie used and share later this week!