Quilting, Balmain, Quilting, Balmain....

I die... Want. Need. Now!

Balmain RTW Spring 2014 Paris 

Photos: WWD

A few good tunes...

...to get you through that midweek slump.

Photo: my own, Music: Soundcloud

Snickerdoodle this...

These have been my staple this week and soooo delicious, that I've even made them TWICE just this week!  Coming from my favorite bakery + cafe in Boston, Flour knows how to do it.  

Recipe:

1 cup (sticks/228 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups (300grams) sugar, plus 1/2 cup (100 grams) for coating 

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups (350 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1/4 cup (30 grams) ground cinnamon

Cream together the butter and 1 1/2 cups of sugar (about 5 minutes with a hand mixer).  Next, beat the eggs on medium speed for about 2 minutes.

In a another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar.  On low speed gradually blend the flour mixture into the butter-sugar mixture.  

For best results, store cookie dough in an airtight container for a couple of hours before baking.  ( I made them immediately of course, because I couldn't wait and they came out just fine).

Heat the over to 350 degrees and start rolling your dough into about tablespoon size balls and coat the cookie dough balls in the remaining sugar + cinnamon mixture.  Place the cookies on a baking sheet and flatten them out slightly with your hand and bake for 15-18 minutes.

Recipe and Cookbook: Flour by Joanne Chang

Can we say hall pass??

Absolutely LOVING LF's Fall lookbook! It's all about the hall pass.... Give me the cropped, sleeveless T in every color please! Expect lots of plaid, some MAJOR boots and of course that gotta have easy, wearable California style. 

Photos: LF Stores, Harper Smith

Oversized + Structured + Plaid

Zara's September lookbook says it all with their structured and oversized coats and pops of plaid in their latest collection.  I'm also digging the oversized lunch bag clutch. Must have. You can find all items at Zara.

Photos: Zara.com

A few faves at the moment...

 

Some of my fave things right now...

1.  Too Faced, La Crème in Divine Wine, Sephora.com

2.  Geo-metrics, old church in the South of France

3.  Carol's Daughter, Monoi Repairing Split End Sealer (smells like summer in a bottle), carolsdaughter.com

4. Jeffrey Campbell, Fontane, LF Stores

Do you Bangle?!

So the question still stands, do you bangle?  If you don't already, check out this amazing and must-have bracelet line going under the name of Bourbon and Boweties.  Don't worry, all of the pieces are just as enticing and crave worthy as the name itself sounds. Founded in 2012 by one of my besties from college, these funky bangles are made from hand selected semiprecious stones from around the world and individually "made by PROUD Southern hands."  

Get ready, because not only are they popping up in boutiques across the U.S., they just landed on Katie Couric's arm on the upcoming issue of People Magazine!

#doyoubangle

Photos: Bourbon & Boweties

Lace, Floral Embroidery and a Sporty touch... Enough Said!

I'm dying! All of my favorite elements together in one collection! Rebecca Minkoff did it again with a fun and  flirty yet edgy ready-to-wear Spring 2014 collection.  The way she pairs those girly-romantic pieces with a sporty  mesh pullover says it all in this Mexican-themed inspired collection.  On a side note, can we please talk about those shoes?!

Photos: WWD

Aint Laurent + Celine Me Alone

 

Check out MNO.Logie's handy work on some of the best arm candy I've seen in a long time.  Not only is this clutch to die for, but they also have some pretty amazing cuffs I'm drooling over as well!

Check everything out at www.mnologie.com/

Photos: MNO.Logie