February 21, 2014

Friday Awesomeness

February 21, 2014/ Michelle S

Happy Friday! I hope you had a fabulous week!

Today calls for some awesomeness. Like serious awesomeness.

First up, I'm guest posting over at Cuckoo 4 Design today as part of Julia's Living Pretty With Your Pets series. I am sharing how baby Ike came into our lives. I stumbled across this picture putting the post together.

I love that squishy face so much. Be sure to head over to Cuckoo 4 Design and say "hi". Julia is beyond talented and her home is amazing. She's one of Ike and I's favorites.

(Julia is also super close to the top 5 in the homies at Apartment Therapy. I'd love to help bump her back up! Voting is quick. Feel free to click the +1 next to Decor and the Dog. I only need about 300 votes to oust Kelly from her #1 spot. I'm feeling pretty good about this one. )

The Michaels event went well last Sunday. Well, it went well as in I showed up and crafted with Kim. Everyone else asked me where I could find those silly rubber band bracelet making things. Note to self. Make rubber band bracelets next time. The Michaels employees were great and I hope that we can do it again in the future!

I have a new addiction. Everlane shirts. I have been reading a bunch of fashion blogs lately. (Bad idea.) I had seen quite a few reviews for Everlane. Everlane's philosophy is to provide luxury items at fair prices. I pondered their t-shirts for days. I gave in. Great life decision. The material is super soft and the t-shirt doesn't cling weird. I also love the shape. This is me pretending to be a fashion blogger. You know, with crappy bathroom shots and no makeup.

This is me being photo bombed by my dog that never leaves my side. I feel like Dressed and the Dog could be a thing. ;)

Where was I? Oh yes. Seriously OBSESSED with these Everlane shirts. I want them in EVERY color. They are $15. They are more expensive than the $8 shirts I have previously purchased from Target but these tees fit so much better. The Target ones also shrink badly. So far, so good on Everlane. I can keep you posted, if you care! (This is in no way sponsored but the links are referral links because I want MORE SHIRTS in EVERY COLOR.)

Here are a few links that I think you might like to check out this weekend. I'll be back next week with a living room update and a painted office. (Hopefully.) Finally a few house projects in the works!

I'm loving following along with the house building process over at Wills Casa.
Rachel has some great low maintanence beauty picks. I trust her opinions. Her tip on Monistat chaffing gel changed my life. (I clearly have a lot going on.)
I need a shopping intervention but I have my eye on some great things over at Paisley Print Boutique. My blog buddy Jen recently opened up shop! Her mission is to create a marketplace that carries high quality, beautiful products where consumers can be sure their purchases are making a difference. I have some awesome friends!
I'm loving Cassie's industrial pipe shelves. Makes me itching to get started on ours!

Happy weekend! See you on Monday with that living room update!

February 19, 2014

Neapolitan Cupcakes

February 19, 2014/ Michelle S

Today I'm going to feed you cupcakes. Neapolitan cupcakes.

Why? Because I want to thank you for voting for Decor and the Dog in Apartment Therapy's Homies! You did that, right? If not, it will take you approximately 2.13 minutes. And it would make Ike smile like this.

He's a sucker for a good contest. (You can vote for multiple blogs and the list is full of great ones!)

Now here's your cupcake....

recipe. If only I could deliver a cupcake to each and everyone of you.

But you will want to make these cupcakes. I promise you. I took them to work on Valentine's Day. Nothing says love like giving your co-workers dia-beetus. My co-workers ranked these as my best cupcakes. They beat out the chocolate with vanilla buttercream and Death by Oreo.

These Neapolitan cupcakes are a delicious chocolate cupcake topped with vanilla and strawberry buttercream.

I started by baking my World's Best Cupcakes. Buttermilk makes the world go 'round.

Chocolate Cupcake:

1 cup buttermilk (most important ingredient in tasty cupcakes)
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil (I've used both and haven't really notice a difference.)
4 eggs
1 (18.25 oz.) box Betty Crocker's Super Moist Devil’s Food cake mi
- I'm a brand snob on this one.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line or grease cupcake pan.

Beat cake mix, buttermilk and oil until moistened (~30 seconds). Add eggs one at a time, until the batter is well-mixed. Beat on high until thick (~2 minutes).

Scoop the batter into the cupcake pan until they are 2/3 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven. Cool cupcakes on a wire rack.

After the cupcakes cooled, I whipped up some vanilla buttercream.

Buttercream Frosting:

2 cups salted butter, softened
5 1/3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/8 teaspoon pure almond extract
7-8 tablespoons heavy cream

Beat the butter until it’s fluffy. Slowly add the sifted powdered sugar a cup at a time. Once all powdered sugar has been added, beat on medium-high until smooth.Add the vanilla and almond extracts, and beat in to combine. Add the cream a bit at a time until frosting reaches desired consistency. Increase mixer speed to medium-high, and continue to beat frosting until light and fluffy.

I piped on the buttercream using a star tip on my Wilton Dessert Decorator.

I then whipped up some strawberry buttercream.

Strawberry Frosting:

2 sticks butter, softened
2 lbs. (about 7 cups) powdered sugar
10-15 frozen strawberries

In a mixing bowl, whip butter with a mixer until butter is fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add powdered sugar in slowly, beating well after each addition. Drop berries in one by one while mixing. Watch your consistency. The berries will thin the frosting so add about 10 and then watch closely. Whip frosting on high for an additional 3 minutes until fluffy and light.

Apply to middle of cupcake using the same star tip.

I recommend storing these cupcakes in the fridge but bring them to room temperature before serving!

Happy cupcake eating! Or just cupcake drooling like I'm doing now while eating my chicken breast and sweet potato. The world of nutrition is unjust. If only vegetables tasted like delicious Neapolitan cupcakes...

February 17, 2014

Happy 7th Birthday, Ike!

February 17, 2014/ Michelle S

Today's a big day! Ike turns 7.

One day you're bringing home the world's cutest puppy.

The next thing you know, he's 7. And then you start sobbing because you can't imagine life without this tennis ball loving mess of a dog.

I know everyone thinks they have the best dog but this guy truly is.

A Wire Fox Terrier won best in show last week. The owner said that the breed is bred to "look for trouble". That sentence describes Ike perfectly. He's fiesty. He's spunky. But he's also the sweetest dog in the world.

The thing I find the most interesting about Ike is that he loves Nate and I equally. Most dogs I know have a favorite. We're both his favorite. Unfortunately I think tennis ball trumps us both but you can't win them all.

What does a special dog get on his 7th birthday? A cake, of course.

A cake I made from scratch. Eaten at the human table. Yeah, it's probably about time Nate and I think about human spawn because this is seriously ridiculous.

And awesome.