Sunset & Vine

Although this post is a little delayed (more like a week and a half delayed - sorry) here’s some fun photos from the vacation we took. Writing this is making me want to go back right now! It truely felt like a week was not long enough for us to enjoy all that Newport Beach and Orange County had to offer. We started off our trip with a few hikes to the beach and some tanning at the pool. Later in the week, we found the time to catch an Angles baseball game, visit Balboa Island, and rent a kayak to explore around the harbor. Between all the salt water taffies and the Shake Shack’s rich and wonderful shakes, we definitely indulged in great treats and great times. 

xoxo,

Sunset & Vine

Hello wonderful SALE! I have a weakness for all things leopard print.. (to be completely honest, I probably should belong to leopard print’s anonymous - but thats really besides the point) 

ASOS Leather Leopard Metal Buckel Satchel $139.16 $83.50 

Although it is a touch late, Happy Memorial Day! We spent the day outside with our family and celebrated with a BBQ and a few great history/war documentaries. I also made these suckers by Mrs. Martha Stewart. They were so fun to make and so yummy. However, I did make one tweak: I substituted out the raspberries and put in blueberries instead (because I had them on hand and wanted to keep with the red, white, and blue theme of course). Find more about these Raspberry-Lemon (or Blueberry-Lemon, in my case) Whoopie Pie’s here!

Raspberry - Lemon Whoopie Pies

Recipe from here

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
• 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons light-brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup fresh raspberries (4 ounces)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter, 1 cup brown sugar, and lemon zest until light and creamy. Add vanilla and egg and beat to combine, scraping down bowl as needed. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With mixer on low, beat in flourmixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk and ending with flour mixture (scrape bowl as needed). Beat well to combine.
2. Drop batter in 2-tablespoon mounds, about 2 inches apart, onto two parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until puffed and pale golden around edges, 17 to 19 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cakes cool completely on sheets on wire racks.
3. In a large bowl, whip cream and 3 tablespoons brown sugar to soft peaks. In a small bowl, mash raspberries with a fork, then fold into whipped cream. Divide raspberry cream evenly among bottoms of half the cakes, then sandwich with remaining cakes.

Follow the jump and see what we also did tonight!

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We are home from our trip and now back at things. Here’s a few snaps from the week:

A fun little outfit from this past week: zipped up Forever 21 cargo coat, J. Crew neon pink buttondown, Levis jeans, and Rafe sandals. 

Made a little Sprinkles visit.. Its been far to long. Red Velvet and Salted Caramel are absolutely TO DIE FOR!!!!

Outfit number two: Levis denim jacket, Banana Republic white tee, Forever 21 pink crops, Nine West platforms (similar style here).

Spring is in full bloom on my bedside table: Pink peonies, cabbage, & white tulips.

Signed up for my first race on Forth of July weekend! I’m now in serious training mode after my seven days of pure indulgence last week in Newport Beach. 

xoxo,

Sunset & Vine

Recently, I came across this article and I thought I’d share.

I feel it’s a must read - Its exactly what I needed right now. image via here. 

This French baby shower featured on Hostess with the Mostess is absolutely wonderful! It’s a theme that is equal parts girly, pretty, and fun (Plus, the vintage plates make me swoon - I wish those could be my dinner plates at home)! I recently recommended this idea for a client’s bridal shower and I could see her wheels turning. After an hour we came up with a few fun games and a delicious menu to pair with the garden and french theme. To change it up a bit, she’s featuring herbs instead of roses. I can’t wait to see her event! All the information about this party, inducing these beautiful pictures, can be found here. 

Oh my goodness, I am so in love with this DIY from a pair and a spare. Seriously, how wonderful, fun, and fashionable is this? If you are anything like me, and carry your camera almost anywhere/everywhere with you, this is an absolute must do! All you need: 2 meters of strong chain (gold option here), 2 sliplock buckles, 50 cm of strong nylon webbing, glue, and scissors. Once you have the goods, hop on over to a pair and a spare and follow their directions. All images are from a pair and a spare.

Anthropologie Monogrammed Mug $6.00

(Sorry - It’s Friday’s Six again this week, but I couldn’t whittle down the photos and Friday’s Five sounds so much better)

This week has been a wonderful one… we’ve been able to relax and enjoy the Southern California weather here in Newport Beach, Ca. We’ve been able to soak up the beautiful beach, some pool and sun time (Tyler is now as red as a lobster), catch an Anaheim Angles baseball game, and sip some unbelievable shakes from the Shake Shack across the street from the hotel (those pictures are soon to come). Although I’ve still been finishing up deadlines and working hard on wedding planning, it’s been very nice to get away and see some new scenery. This is some of what we’ve been up to this week. 

Mom’s Mothers Day gift sitting right next to the phone and my idea of a gourmet breakfast meal for the morning. She had a good chuckle. 

One outfit from the week. Vintage cuff and skirt, Forever 21 shirt, Longchamp bag.

I just received my business cards from Moo the other day in the mail. I love them. 

Another outfit from the week. Forever 21 cargo coat, Zara top, Levis Jeans, Banana Republic purse.

Toes in the water in Newport Beach, California. Life is good.

Talk more soon. xoxo, 

Sunset & Vine

The other day I got to spend a little time in a store I love dearly: Sephora. I feel like its been ages since I’ve walked into makeup and beauty heaven. Here are a few things I managed to pick up (in such a short amount of time):

Benefit Cosmetics Tan About Tan $12.00

Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant Pure Vanilla (I am seriously in love) $18.00 

Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve in a Tube $6.00

Until we meet again Sephora …

xoxo,

sunset & vine

Recently I read a post about one of my favorite blogger’s summer to do list. Feeling inspired (and slightly a little pinterest happy), I found some things that I’d love to put on my own “summer to do list.” One of the top things on the list? Try this Salt Water Taffy recipe from Vanilla & Lace:

Salt water taffy
Yields approx. 50 pieces/1.5 pounds
posted here. adapted from here. Ms Humble also did it here 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 T. Cornstarch
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 T. margarine/butter
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. Flavoring oil

Directions:
Prepare a heat safe dish by lightly buttering it. If you are making more than one flavor, prep said amount of dishes. Also lightly butter a spatula for each flavor. And have each flavor and food color ready.

In a saucepan, sift together sugar and cornstarch. Stir in corn syrup, water, salt and margarine. Place over medium heat and stir until sugar dissolves. Cover pan and bring to a boil for 2 or 3 minutes. Uncover, place thermometer in pan and cook to 256 - 266 degrees F. The lower temperature will result in a chewier taffy, the higher a more brittle texture. Remove from heat and add food color and flavoring. Stir gently, pour into prepared dish/pan.

When cool enough to handle, grease hands and pull the warm candy with fingertips, pulling out to about 12 inches at first. Quickly turn candy back from fingertips of one hand to the other hand, then catch center and pull again. This will incorporate air into the candy. Continue pulling until taffy is light in color and has a satiny gloss, about twenty minutes. Pull into a long rope, cut with greased scissors and wrap in waxed paper squares, twisting ends.

All pictures and recipe found at Vanilla & Lace.

This week has felt like it’s been a long one. With a serious stomach bug, a midterm, and a little wedding planning too, our upcoming vacation next week can’t seem to come fast enough. I am seriously counting down the days for Newport Beach! This is what we’ve been up to this week:

A serious Margarita maker for a Cinco de Mayo party on the 5th of May. 

A beautiful day at the beach in Ventura, California. The weather was amazing.

Getting a little base coat for our up-coming vacation (Swimsuit from VS).

Crossing fingers and toes for our upcoming wedding venue!

Santa Ynez Farmer’s Market cherries and a wonderful Espresso Chai Latte. 

xoxo,

Sunset & Vine

With Mother’s Day this weekend, I am planning ahead of time. My Mom would absolutely eat something like this up, so I’m headed out to the craft store today to pick up all the supplies. This Aged Cloth Message for Mom comes from A Subtle Revelry - find more information about it all, including these pictures and instructions, here. 

Need:

• 2 yards of your choice of light colored linen
• a pack of iron on transfer sheets
• A printer with black ink

Instructions (from here):

(Do not launder before the project). Purchase a pack of iron on transfer sheets and decide what message you’d like to send. Type up the message in black ink and large scale, this one was done at 16×20 inches. Do not flip your writing for this project even though the package will tell you to. Part of the style of this text is that it pops up from underneath the cloth, missing the film outline usually associated with iron on transfers. Print the words by tiling your file.

This post from The Sweetest Occasion today is so sweet! Find out more about this wonderful party here.

source

Since I received a little free shipping coupon in my email today, free shipping on anything $25 and above, I decided why not do a little Forever 21 online browsing (this is a recipe for trouble - whoopsies). This is what is in my shopping cart at the moment:

Women’s Accordion Pleated Swing Dress $22.80

Rhinestoned Pyramid Spikes Necklace $14.80

Leopard Button Tab Button Up $13.80

Flounced Strapless Jumpsuit $12.90

*Free Shipping* 

Today only - code: FREESHIP

xoxo,

Sunset & Vine

Last weekend we celebrated at Barney’s Beanery for a friend’s birthday!

A few new things. I am so in love with dainty little bracelets, can you tell?

Finally was able to go on my first hike since being home from Germany!

Peanut butter cookie making for a catering job - Recipe from here.

Thursday’s outfit with my favorite fitted denim jacket from here. And my new Michael Kors Wallet - that I found on sale. I am in love. 

xoxo,

sunset & vine

Now that we think we’ve set a date, this just might be needed. We are aiming for a summer wedding, so this would be perfect for the honeymoon. If you know a Brides to be, this is such a cute gift to give at a shower or party - it’ll be a wonderful memory for the new Mrs!

Kate Spade New York ‘Bridal’ Passport Holder $78.00

Hello wonderful yummy looking goodness! These Ombre Meringue Parfaits by the Wedding Chicks are absolutely beautiful and party perfect. I love everything about this - including the fun colors and the little name flags. This is definitely on file for the wedding.. possibly a wedding party brunch idea? Find more about this recipe and more of these beautiful pictures here. And by the way, jump on over to the Wedding Chicks site too… they have some wonderful ideas!

Find the Wedding chicks recipe after the jump -

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