Addicted to Mint!

I know this trend started last summer, but I can't seem to shake it!  I am loving mint and all the spring freshness it brings!  Especially when paired with white, neons, or other pastels!

Sunnies: Gifted (Coach), Blouse: Express, Clutch: Target, White Cropped pant: Express

Link bracelet: (similar), Tinkerbell Ring: Gifted, Neon Ring: Posh Nashville, Infinity & Star fish bracelet: Gifted from sister Ashley (Christmas present from Boston) (similar)

Sandals: Unisa (last summer purchase)

Do you have any favorite mint pieces?  Share and feel free to add a link to pic!

Pause in Posting

Sorry for the momentary pause in posts, however Ma & Pa Patti are in town!  And we're having a good ole time!

Movie Marathon!

When David and I first met one of our favorite things to do was to have movie marathons.  We would meet up, get a bunch of movies from the video store (the local Family Video in Ripon, WI) and try to watch as many as we could in one sitting.  We would then write down our accomplishments, yes I said accomplishments, on the sheet we were sitting on in the living room.  We have since lost our sheet, but we never lost our movie flare!       

Movies of 4/7/13

Row 1: Alex Cross, Game Change, and Lawless
Row 2: Deadfall, Hitler's Children, You've Been Trumped

And here is a funny pod cast about Alex Cross, if you are so inclined:
The Flop House: Alex Cross

What movies have you watched lately?

Filing Cabinet Face Lift!

 Filing cabinets are expensive, and usually ugly.  I had no idea until I was in the market for one that they can cost upwards of $80.00, if you don't want to opt for the plastic caboodle kind.  Luckily we scooped this lovely wooden one up from family members that were no longer using it (thanks Heidi & Gagi) and with an easy facelift it is now my favorite piece in the room!

First I sanded the outside.  Then painted the whole cabinet white.  After it had dried, for at least 24 hrs, I lightly sanded the white paint as well, to make the finish super smooth.  Then chevron away!  Painters tape works best for creating which ever design you choose.  Make sure to smooth the edges of the tape so that none of your paint bleeds past the design.  I used acrylic paint to paint my design.  

 I was measuring the tape out as I went along, but just be sure to preplan and use a ruler to make sure your design is crisp & straight.  If you aspire to be a perfectionist now is the time with this project.  I probably did 3-4 coats of blue acrylic paint before I got my desired shade.  It still wasn't perfect, but I feel satisfied whenever I look at it.  I put the little gold hinges back on, and we were ready to file!  

  

Now the only problem was, I loved it so much, I wanted it everywhere!  

Wow can that cabinet work it or what!?!  What DIY's or Upcycles have you tried lately?

My Cupcakes Bring all the Boys to the Yard!

I have had these strawberry cupcakes on my mind for quite sometime as they are my recipe cover page on Pinterest.  So every time I pin-  the little cakes say hello to my sweet tooth.  Luckily, there was finally a deal at our local grocer on strawberries, so when David came home with two large containers I immediately knew their fate.  Sorry little guys.  Weren't they beautes?

The recipe is fairly easy from An Edible Mosaic.  This girl knows what she is talking about!  I've tried quite a few of her recipes and they don't disappoint!  Though since I am a baking novice I requested the  supervision of my Baking Queen friend Rachel.  With her tutelage the cupcakes came out fruity, yummy, & moist!  One of her tips: to slightly undercook, bc the baking process continues after you remove a dessert from the oven.  We both enjoy moist as opposed to dry.  Don't you? 

(Also note, we couldn't find strawberry extract, but they were strawberryie enough without it)

And in one fell swoop, the strawberry disappeared!


I think at this point we were just abusing the camera man a.k.a. David

Recipe from An Edible Mosaic

Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes with Fresh Strawberry Frosting

Yields about 24 to 28 cupcakes

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/8 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

9 oz hulled fresh strawberries, coarsely chopped (about 2 cups chopped strawberries, lightly packed)

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

1/4 cup milk (any kind)

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon strawberry extract (if available)

Fresh Strawberry Frosting (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350F and line cupcake tins with paper liners.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl and set aside.  Puree the strawberries in a blender or food processor (you will get about 1 1/4 cups of strawberry liquid); set aside.

Cream together butter and sugar, then cream in the eggs; mix in the milk, vanilla extract, strawberry extract, and pureed strawberries.  Use a wooden spoon to stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients all at once, stirring just enough to combine and being careful not to over-mix.

Pour the batter into the prepared cupcake wells (filling each about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way full) and bake until a toothpick inserted inside comes out clean, about 20 to 24 minutes.  Cool completely before frosting with Fresh Strawberry Frosting.

Fresh Strawberry Frosting

2 oz hulled fresh strawberries, coarsely chopped (about 1/3 cup chopped strawberries, lightly packed)

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla bean paste (or pure vanilla extract)

1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract (if available)

1/8 teaspoon coarse sea salt

1 1/4 lbs powdered (confectioner’s) sugar  (Chelsey's Note: 1lb of powdered sugar was plenty sweet)

1-3 teaspoons milk (any kind)

Puree the strawberries in a blender or food processor (you will get about 6 tablespoons of strawberry liquid).  Use a handheld electric mixer to beat together the strawberry puree, butter, vanilla bean paste, strawberry extract, and sea salt.  Gradually beat in the sugar until it’s all incorporated, adding 1 teaspoon of milk at a time as necessary (you may not need all the milk).

What is your favorite Spring Dessert?!