Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Check Out the Comparison





So last year my dear sweet husband let me splurge on some fun summer shoes. Hence, since they are pretty much still in style, I feel I don't need to buy designer shoes this year.
Not that I'm above it if I see the "to die for pair", but I'm good for now. I did however pick up these puppies at Payless (bottom photo) after admiring them in the Michael Kors (top photo) version at Nordstrom. I think real leather is leather and pleather just can't compare. However, on something as trendy as this, I can go for the copy-cat version. I'm not blind, I realize the stripes are thicker on the copy-cat.......but really, would you guess there is a $80+ price difference!?!

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Bundt Love

Haven't tried it yet! Can't wait!

Ingredients:
5 eggs
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
20 tbsp. (2 1/2 sticks/10 oz/283g) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into small pieces
2 tbsp. kirsch or other fruit liqueur
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
Pinch of salt
3 1/2 cups raspberries
1 1/2 cups blueberries or blackberries
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat an oven to 325°F (160°C). Butter and flour an elegant heart cake pan.

In a large bowl, blend the eggs and granulated sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat in the butter and liqueur until fluffy. Add all but 2 Tbs. of the flour and the baking powder and salt, and beat until well incorporated and no lumps remain.

In another bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups of the raspberries and the blueberries with the remaining 2 Tbs. flour. Toss to coat the berries evenly with the flour. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the berries into the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cake cool in the pan for 20 to 25 minutes. Unmold the cake onto the rack and let cool completely.

Fill the center of the cake with the remaining 2 cups raspberries. Dust the cake with confectioners' sugar.

Makes 10-12 servings.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Outdoors Series, Picnics and Tailgates, by Diane Rossen Worthington (Time-Life Books, 1998).

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Shoe Sparkle Heaven
















I love these little numbers! They just are so fun and girly!

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Sparkles Make Me Smile

Sparkles make me smile. If it has sparkles, I love it. That's probably why I love being the mother of a girl. We get to be "sparkly" together. She loves what I love. (for now) She is my little pal. That being said, I can't wait to be a mother to a boy (hopefully), because I know he'll sparkle too. Not in the same way my Little Tennessee does, but every child has a sparkle in their eye. Children are what make the world go round and I love being a mom. It is the greatest thing I've ever done...and that makes me sparkle inside and out!