Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Thursday, March 25, 2010

a twist on a classic favorite...

We LoVe margarita's ...
& so for today's cocktail recipe... in honor of K's birthday...
here's a twist on our favorite drink in a cupcake!

*Margarita Cupcake*
-Recipe-
*CAKE*
*9 ounces liquid Margarita mix (a little over a cup)
*3 ounces Tequila (a little less than 1/3 cup)
* 3/4 ounce Grand Marnier
*1 box white cake mix
*3 large egg whites
*2 Tbs vegetable oil
*1 Tbs lime zest
*LIME BUTTERCREAM ICING*
*2 sticks unsalted butter (1 cup), at room temperature
*5 to 6 cups powdered sugar
*2 Tbs fresh lime juice
*1/8 tsp salt
*1 tsp grated lime zest
*green food coloring, if desired
*small lime slices, if desired
1.) Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 dozen cupcake tins with paper liners.
2.)Prepare Cupcakes: Whisk together margarita mix, tequila & Grand Marnier in a small bowl. Measure out 1 1/4 cups for the recipe...
pour the rest over some ice and enjoy for yourself! :)
3.)In a large bowl, blend cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, lime zest, & 1 1/4 cups of the margarita mix from step 1. Blend on low for about 30 seconds and then increase speed to medium and blend for 2 additional minutes. Batter will be slightly lumpy.
4.)Spoon the batter into cupcake liners (about 3/4 full). Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until tootpick comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool for about 10 minutes in the pans, & then remove them to a rack to cool completely.
5.) Prepare Icing: Once cupcakes are completely cooled, prepare the icing. Place butter in a large bowl and beat until butter is fluffy. Add 5 cups of powdered sugar, salt, lime juice, & lime zest. Mix until thick and creamy. Add more powered sugar until the frosting is of a good spreading (or piping) consistency. Mix in a tiny amount of green food coloring or gel paste, if you'd like the frosting to have a green tint. Garnish with lime slices for decor!
*makes 24*
A






today is the day that a *Chic Girl* was born!
&
I'll be nice and not say how many years ago it was!



*Happy Birthday Nonna*


Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

...


A & K

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

*Shoes-day Tuesday*

with tomorrow being St. Patricks Day...
couldn't resist doing a green pair!
and keeping with today's earlier post...
these are by Mister Louboutin as well!


A

Champagne & Christian Louboutin ♥

.

move over Cinderella ...



YES! that is actually a glass heel...
uhhm... Cinderella who?
this glass slipper is designed by Christian Louboutin,
and it's also paired with a bottle of Piper-Heidsieck champagne!
Our two favorite indulgence's ... Louboutin and bubbly!
Okay so Cinderella's "glass slipper" actually changed her life
but her slipper wasn't designed by Mister Louboutin himself!
Piper-Heidsieck and Christian Louboutin have paired up
for
"Le Rituel"
(the ritual)
Named that because ...
"In 19th Century Russia...
gentleman patrons celebrated a ballerina's triumphant performance by raising her champagne-filled slipper in a toast. Scandalously, this tradition was adopted at the Folies Bergere in Belle Epoque Paris, where the revelry of the dancers and their admirers often transcended just the dancing."


"Piper-Heidsieck has resurrected this tradition with Le Rituel by Christian Louboutin.
A marvelous crystal stiletto champagne flute by this master shoe designer stands on a translucent sole saturated by his iconic red hue of seduction, which perfectly pairs with the renowned red label of Piper-Heidsieck Brut, in a extraordinary gift set."
and this rare and unique set can be yours for $500...
and of course it's only available in extremely limited quantities!





A

Monday, March 15, 2010

Mini Vacay!

.


.



Wanting to take a vacation...
but can't really find the money or reason to do it?
Well, thanks to the Ritz and Four Seasons you now can!
It may not be a glamorous vaction to Paris or to Fiji
but you can turn it into a nice little vacay... even if it's 15 minutes away from your house!
(click link below to read article)



.

A

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Oscar Fashion ♥

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My Picks for Best Dressed of the night...
.
Miley Cyrus
in Jenny Packham
Kristen Stewart

in Monique Lhuillier



Queen Latifah

in Badgley Mischka


Sandra Bullock

in Marchesa

Demi Moore

in Versace


Vera Farmiga

in Marchesa

Elizabeth Banks

in Versace


.






My picks for Worst Dressed of the night...


I like the top halves of these dresses...

Sarah Jessica Parker

in Chanel

Kate Winslet

in Yves Saint Laurent



Diane Kruger

in Chanel




Zoe Saldana

in Givenchy


.

Who just completely missed...

& need to fire their stylists... or hire one!



Charlize Theron

in Christian Dior

Mariah Carey




Carey Mulligan

in Prada



Jennifer Lopez

in Armani Prive



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A



































































































Tuesday, March 2, 2010

*Shoes-day* Tuesday


A

Happy Birthday...

Jovi!


like wine... he gets better with age!
can't wait to see you in April!