Category — Thoughts On Grown-Upness

My first birthday was a Strawberry-Shortcake-Themed party.  And though at the time I was all about the sweet-smelling pink-haired big-headed doll (oh did I love Strawberry Shortcake!), I was also a huge fan of the actual cake.  It was, in fact, my first birthday cake.

So as summer rolls around and strawberries are fresher than ever, I’m clamoring for a plate of old-fashioned from scratch strawberry shortcake.

Homemade Strawberry Shortcake

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups halved strawberries
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons chilled stick margarine or butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• Cooking spray
• 6 tablespoons whipped topping (I used sugar-free)

Directions

1. Combine fresh Dole strawberry halves, 1/3 cup sugar, Dole orange juice, vanilla, and lemon juice in a pan, and simmer on low until desired consistency. Place in air-tight tupperware, cover and chill.
2. Preheat oven to 425°.
3. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; cut in margarine with a pastry blender or 2 knives (or a potato masher!) until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk, stirring just until moist (dough will be sticky).
4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead lightly 4 times with floured hands. Pat dough into a 6 x 4-inch rectangle. Cut dough into 6 squares (or use a cookie cutter and cut into circles). Place 1 inch apart on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 425° for 12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
5. Split shortcakes in half horizontally using a serrated knife; place each bottom half on a dessert plate. Put a dollop of whipped topping and about 1/4 cup strawberry mixture over each bottom half. Top with shortcake tops; spoon a bit more whipped topping and another  1/4 cup strawberry mixture over each top.

By the way, the biscuits are simple, soft on the inside, and perfectly chewy and buttery soft on the outside.

I cooked down the strawberry filling, then stored in an air-tight container and chilled, to get that syrupy consistency.

Seriously, amazing.

See my full recipe on Foodie.com.

Recipe adapted via Cooking Light, JUNE 1998

Enter your own favorite summer recipes in the Dole Facebook Contest + Dole Facebook Sweepstakes, using at least one cup of Dole product, for a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles to participate in a celebrity cook-off contest.  Prizes include, $10,000 and $1,000 awards, and if cooking is not your thing, but you’re a fan of good food, enter the Dole sweepstakes drawing to win a chance to be a Dole Fan judge where you’ll join Chef Ben Ford and his panel of judges in the Dole California cook-off, which also includes a $500 cash prize.

*Compensation was provided by Dole via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Dole.

“If you want to know where your heart is look where your mind goes when it wanders.” – Unknown

Photo found via Coco Cozy via Alvhem

I miss stickers.  I used to obsess over stickers.  I had Lisa Frank sticker books full of great stickers, unicorns and Strawberry Shortcake, some with glitter, some full of oil.  My sticker collection was awesome.  In truth, I think my sticker faze lasted all of a few months in late Elementary School, but that’s besides the point.  This clutch, decked out in great stickers has me all nostalgic, and I’m running with it.

When we were kids, stickers mattered, now $1200 pumps matter.  Boo.  End rant.

Image via Style Sight // Paris Fashion Week 2012

I loved this list when I recently saw it on the FP Blog. I like that the list helps me to pretend to think I can be zen-like, all full of green tea, unprocessed foods, and yoga.

Well, I can at least accomplish number 17: “wear clothes that make you happy.” Easy.

Also, it has just now occurred to me that in attempting to find my inner chi and be all zen and what-not, I’ve found a list. A to-do list! #TypeAProblems

Via Free People

Forget animal prints, why not kick it old school (circa kindergarten), and rock animals printed on your clothes?

And really, what’s cooler than a blouse covered in zebras, roosters, horses, birds, and cats?

A few of my favorite current animal-printed pieces:

ASOS Poodle Shrunken Boyfriend Blazer + Poodle Pocket Mini Skirt

ASOS Sugarhill Boutique Playsuit in Bunny Print

ModCloth Everly Tour de Horse Dress

ModCloth Ze-brouhaha Cardigan Horse Cardigan

Forever21 Equine Knit Top

Joie Constantine Owl-Print Silk Dress

Old Navy Bird Print Charmeuse Blouse

Anthropologie Leifsdottir Scattered Wing Romper

Images: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

This series is brought to you by Levi’s® Curve ID

Find your custom fit at Levi’s® stores or Levi.com

I used to wear jeans like sunglasses or lip gloss – I never left the house without them.  I lived in denim, wore the same pair over and over, found the ever-so-perfect way of fluffing the jeans to keep them uber soft.  And then I grew up, entered the career world, and my jeans cried from the high up shelf where they were left.

Nowadays I relish in a good pair of jeans, but I’ve begrudgingly accepted that my old pairs aren’t quite going to cut it.  Levi’s® Curve are perfect for my grown-up figure (hello, curves!) and they’re also the perfect canvas for any number of fabulous outfits.  When I put on a pair of jeans, I want to play dress up.  I’m just not a jeans-and-flip-flops kind of girl; but great jeans and a pair of heels — that’s my sweet spot.

How do you style your jeans? Are you an every day denim-wearer, or do the jeans only make appearances on nights and weekends?

And, if you get the chance, check out all of Levi’s® Curve ID jeans in Levi’s® stores or on Levi.com.  They’re sleek, sophisticated, and completely flattering.

Levi’s® Curve ID Demi Skinny Jeans // Low Luv by Erin Wasson Curved Nail Pendant Necklace // Alexander Wang Cellaphane Stripe Cardigan // Maison Martin Margiela Four Finger Rings // Low Luv by Erin Wasson Arrow + Leather Bracelet // Giuseppe Zanotti Haircalf Strappy Sandals // Stella McCartney Yenisea Peplum Top (Similar) // Chanel Classic Shoulder Flap Bag // Kate Spade Supercalifragilipstick! in Adventurous Red

I’m a big fan of February, and V-day in particular, but I’m not really a pink-heart-romper-wearing kind of girl. Though I’m as feminine as they get, I live for black, gold, studs, eyeliner, and rock ‘n roll.  As for our big night plans, I’ll be staying in this V-day with the hubby.  I guess when you’re working all day everyday, the sofa, a bottle of wine, and ice cream – those are the crème de la crème.

1. Lauren Moshi Willow Diamond Lips Sweater // 2. Alexander McQueen Leather Wrap Skull Bracelet // Emily Elizabeth Open Heart Bangle // Emily Elizabeth Secret Open Bangle // Emily Elizabeth Skull Open Bangle // Alexander McQueen Twin Skull Bracelet // 3. Picnic Time Picnic Basket // 4. Hanky Panky Zipper Low Rise Thong // 5. Barefoot Dreams Wild Leopard Throw // 6. Ice Cream

Pyramid studs were all the rage in the 90s – I may have bedazzled my bookbag with rhinestones, but I bedazzled ALL of my denim with pyramid stones.  These accessories, featuring the updated pyramid stud look, appeal to my now-grownup-chic inner-seventh-grader (sans red plastic glasses and unfortunate hair.)

Image on the left found here // Board created by Glitter & Pearls // Dominic Jones Rings – Jaw Ring and Female Ring // BCBG Spike Bangle (Similar Styles by Noir, CC Skye, Kenneth Jay Lane)

And that clutch? It’s Lanvin.

I tend to go (fairly) understated in putting together an outfit; black is my weakness.  So when it comes to shoes, I throw caution to the wind.  I love me a funky shoe!  And I swear I have an “excuse” … when you’re a professional, or at the very least, a half-time professional – blacks, greys, creams, and nudes – tend to comprise a major part of your day-to-day wardrobe, but with shoes, it’s carte blanche.  My thinking is, the judge can’t see my mirrored tasseled python pumps from way atop that podium … err, right?

Which leads me to my latest love, python printed pumps.  As far as color goes, the python print mixes fairly muted colors together, with a bolder animal print (but not so bold as a dalmatian or zebra print).  Meow! (or hiss, or whatever.)

Jimmy Choo Cosmic Python Pumps // Ted Baker Daler // Chinese Laundry Fit 2 Be Tied in Natural Python // Alexandre Birman Python Pumps // Rachel Zoe Cole // Kate Spade Celeste // Kate Spade Kiki // Georgina Goodman Python Danielle

Image Board Created by Glitter & Pearls // Image two here

Visit Glitter Weddings – WEDDINGS FOR THE TYPE-A BRIDE {WITH GLITTER ON TOP}

In elementary school there was this enormous (or what seemed enormous at the time) trash compactor in the cafeteria that we had to dump our garbage into.  At the end of each lunch, a child inevitably tossed his or her lunch money, medication, or worse (and far more costly) – their retainer – and the compactor had to be shut down.  Moms and Dads had to come by the school to help sort through the trash, searching for the $3,000 mouth guard.  I threw caution to the wind and often lost my whole lunchbox (seriously – giant trash chomping machine here, people); eventually my mom got wise and she learned to brown-paper-bag-it.

Fast forward many many years, and a handful of my favorite luxury designers are creating couture substitutes for the coffee sleeve.  Take that, Starbucks!  I don’t care how much I spent (in my imaginary world where I buy things like couture coffee sleeves), I’d toss that sleeve right into the trash – cup, crocodile, and all.  Operator fail or fashion fail?  You tell me.

Via Poise Polish

Visit Glitter Weddings – WEDDINGS FOR THE TYPE-A BRIDE {WITH GLITTER ON TOP}