Honey Dearest

hello, friends! as usual, i’m behind the times and a month overdue, but hey, better late than never :)

in an attempt to be more organized this year, i got a new calendar and notepad. and pens! this fruit calendar by Rifle, is hanging in my kitchen, where i happen to be the most. it’s cheerful and pleasant to look at.

how cute is this zebra notepad? i mean, come on! right? such a fun way to start the day. delightful.

and last but not least, the pens. muji pens are my fave. black gel-ink 0.5mm to be exact. they write perfectly smooth and they’re cheap. i’m a sucker for a good pen.

i’m obsessed with these pretty colored enamel bangles. pictured above, j.crew has some that range from $14.99 - $35.00.

i found some very similar bracelets at forever 21 that make me giddy. if you look close enough, some are the exact same as the j.crew ones. AND they only cost from $2.80 - $10.80. talk about the perfect little stocking stuffers! layer up - the more the merrier :)

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j.crew bangles via j.crewing

these are my favorite cupcakes to make for the holiday season. they’re delicious and always a huge hit. boozy or not, your choice - but whatever you do, don’t skip the eggnog! it makes them really fluffy. i used irish whiskey this time around, but you could use bourbon or dark rum as well. i plan to make these again this week and i think i’ll go with spiced rum. mmmm, seriously can’t wait!

sorry, i only had my instagram pics for these guys…

Eggnog Cupcakes
severely adapted by Anna’s Swedish Butter Cake

Ingredients:
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup eggnog
1/4 cup bourbon, whiskey, OR dark rum
1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract

Prepare pans by lining with cupcake liners. Preheat oven to 350°F. Sift or whisk together flour, baking powder, nutmeg and salt. Set aside. (This recipe made about 16 cupcakes for me).

Cream together the butter and sugar until smooth and well blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add the dry ingredients and the eggnog. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. Add the vanilla and whiskey (or whatever booze you choose!)

Pour batter into prepared pans, 3/4 full. Bake 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely.

Eggnog Buttercream
my recipe

Ingredients:
6 ounces cream cheese
1 stick butter
1/4 cup eggnog
4 - 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Fresh nutmeg

Cream butter and cream cheese in bowl of electric mixer or with handheld beaters. When the mixture is soft and fluffy begin to add sifted powdered sugar a little at a time. Slowly add 1 tablespoon of eggnog alternating with the powdered sugar until you reach the right consistency. (Sometimes I don’t need all of the sugar or the entire 1/4 cup of eggnog {sorry if that doesn’t help!}) Beat until creamy. Pipe onto cupcakes using a pastry bag or spread with a spatula. Sprinkle fresh nutmeg on top.

Cupcakes may be stored in an airtight container for up to four days. ENJOY!

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here. i really tried to keep things very simple and rustic this year, hence the burlap and greens everywhere! now i’m on to wrapping presents and baking galore!

happy friday and Merry Christmas everyone!

over the last month, i’ve been hunting on the weekends. you see, it’s my most favorite thing to do EVER. it’s become quite an addiction of sorts :) i went to a couple new antique stores with my mom and cousin and another time with another cousin and sis-in-law. we had SO MUCH fun! i made them promise me we’d go every month. sure beats going alone.

one of the places was outside and so gross… i’ll spare the pics. you may begin to wonder about me. :) why is it that the dirtiest places always seem to have to best “junk” ?! 

i found these awesome map prints for $2.00. can’t beat that. i’m gong to frame them for my hub’s office in the attic. can’t wait to finish decorating his space- i think it’s the best room in the house.

love those muted colors…

i also found this insane old clock, i think it was only $1.00. it doesn’t work and yeah, it’s pretty beat up. but i like it anyway. sorry for the blurry pics…

oh, and i also found my wreath at the dirty place. (totally calling it that from now on!) it was only $5.00!

at one of my favorite antique stops, i found this turkey platter. i’ve wanted one forever and snatched it up as soon as i saw the colors. so sad i won’t get to use it this year.

i’ve somehow managed to collect more pictures. i don’t know where to hang them yet, but couldn’t resist just for the frames alone.

i have a thing for horses. aren’t they lovely…

well, that’s it for now. happy tuesday!

last weekend we had a girl’s weekend getaway with my mom and her two sisters. we stayed at my aunt’s beautiful farmhouse in the lehigh valley. my other aunt was taking a walk around the back property and found tons of bittersweet growing wild. i was beyond excited since i’ve been on the hunt for the last two months! we snipped and snipped as much as we wanted and loaded the back of the jeep for all to share. there’s still tiny berries all over the place! i regret not having my camera with me all weekend. anyway, i’ve been slowly adding a few sprigs here and there through out the entire house. i love love bittersweet :)

Happy Halloween everyone! here’s my spooky spider cupcakes that i made over the weekend. they’re chocolate with orange cream cheese frosting. best cupcakes ever! the recipe can be found here.

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i love this green leather tote bag… bet it could hold all my junk. i had to throw in one of essie’s latest fall colors. in case you haven’t noticed, essie is my all time fave nail polish. i wouldn’t mind a new watch. this timex has been on my radar for months… love the classic style and size.  i’m dying over the horse print shirt… too cute.  the box hair color is something i’ve been researching lately.  i hear fekkai is amazing. can’t wait to try.  the nashelle initial necklace has been on my wishlist forever. i actually got one last christmas, but it was broken so we sent it back and never replaced it. the chambray shirt is a must this fall… sure can’t beat target’s price.  i haven’t upgraded my phone in years. would really like the new iphone. in white.  gray minnetonkas are perfect. i tried some on at the beach and didn’t want to take them off.  as always, most of this list will roll over into my christmas list :)

happy friday!!

it all started here. i came home with over 20 different pumpkins and gourds. nothing like a good variety of shapes and colors…

i found this berry wreath at an antique store for $5.00. i originally wanted a bittersweet wreath like this, but couldn’t find any local. the colors are perfect.

can’t beat the deep purple color of ornamental cabbage. this year was a first for my flower bed and it most definitely won’t be the last!

my sage is in full bloom, can’t wait to start cooking with it…

the sweet potato vine in the shed’s flower boxes needed more color. a single pumpkin did the trick!

i’m planning on covering this little bench in the vestibule, but in the meantime i love how the gourds pop against the black.

most of our house is still in shambles, but thankfully i’ve been able to add a few touches of fall here and there. hope you’re enjoying your fall everyone!