I'd like my Halloween to look like this, please!

What is everyone doing this weekend? I plan to stay at home with the pup (who will be a pumpkin for her very first Halloween!), make homemade apple cider and hand out candy to the wee ones. I also have some classic horror movies handy (Poltergeist, Halloween (the original) and The Descent) which will be stream throughout the weekend.  I of course will be dressing as Dorothy (year 3 - those ruby slippers aren't paying for themselves!) and just enjoying the chilly weather.  Here are some of my favorite Halloween inspired photos I've collected below. Have a very SAFE and Happy Halloween, penguins!

Photos via Daydream Lily and Sweet Paul.

More Dog Lovin'

Oh my - I think I've hit an all time high of dog obsession. In the past week I've bought Scout her first puppy bed, a new set of vintage dog bowls and now I'm craving these adorable dog portraits by the clever people over at Paste. Luckily, they don't have an Australian Shepard option, else I'd be out some serious cash! Get your dog posters here!

Lake Arrowhead: A Photo Diary

This past weekend the gang headed up to Lake Arrowhead for some serious R&R. We brought the pup (obvs) and enjoyed a weekend full of pajama-time game playing (seriously, i didn't change out of them ONCE), fire-building, milk shake shack visiting, hiking in the forest, swinging on the nearby playground and lots and lots of napping. I wish I could go back! Some photos from the weekend below. Thanks to JT & Family for letting us borrow your log cabin for the weekend!

Loving these ....

Polaroid Coasters by JustNoey. How cute would these be on a coffee table or as a gift?

 

Music Monday: Charlotte Gainsbourg

Let me say it loud, let me say it clear: I love Charlotte Gainsbourg. Her recent album IRM (produced by Beck - COOL!) came out in 2009 and I can't believe I didn't post about it then. I don't want to disservice you, faithful readers, so here it is now! If you don't know anything about Charlotte, she's the daughter of France's most adored singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg and British actress Jane Birkin.  Charlotte is a musician, actress and an ohmygoodness crazy amazing dresser with impeccable style. My favorite song off her recent album entitled Heaven Can Wait, is below. Happy Music Monday to you all!

A note to my bestest!

I just have to say, you guys, that my best friend is the shiz. We met when we were 15 years old at boarding school in tucked away Concord, NH. I, wearing torn abercrombie jeans (were those ever cool?) and a spice girls t-shirt and Lily, dressed in hemp with flowers in her hair asked me, "would you like any of my fresh organic chips?" I responded with " no thank you, but I'm meeting Leonardo DiCaprio next week!" WHAT? (that totally never happened, by the way) We couldn't have been more different but I do believe, our hearts are the same.  We met 14 years ago and have embarked on many a misadventure; most of which usually include unfathomable amounts of ice cream, incredible amounts of skipping and a lot a lot of laughter. Lily is currently bad-assing it around India with her wonderful husband; painting, photographing, and I'm sure, taking her little Himalayan town by storm. Every time I read her blog  (if you aren't aware of it, be aware of it now. follow it. follow her. you'll love it) my eyes well up with appreciation and a constant renewed sense of inspiration. I feel so special to know this person and thought I would share a little of that love online today. Plus I just miss her a lot and this blogpost is cheaper than sending a letter to India. (KIDDING!) Check out some of Lily's recent photos from India below.  I'm sure you'll be as charmed as I am. Happy Thursday!

Mrs. Libra

I love two things; 1) being a Libra and 2) Mrs. Lilien's Styling House Blog. She combines both on one of her latest posts. Check out what Mrs. Lilien has to say about Libra's below! I love every single Libra Style Piece she choose!

Oh the mesmerizing Mrs. Libra - she's a harmony driven diva - and so astoundingly full of vim and viva! She's romantic, sociable and just so charming - she exudes an easy-going-ness that's with out a doubt alarming! She's pretty flirtatious and rather self indulgent - she's idealistic, peaceable and ridiculously pleasant! She's easily influenced and at times questionably gullible - but there's not doubt that she's good hearted and painfully loveable! She likes things fair and balanced, but her goodness by far outweighs the bad - She's Mrs. Libra and she's unequivocally FAB!

Libra Style Choices

1.Silk-satin and chiffon mini dress
2. Karolina pumps
3. Vintage dangling lapis clip-ons
4. Across the Universe Nail Color
5.Lanvin Ouloulou Satin Pouchette
6. Sip of gold champagne cups
7. Libra pillow
8. Antoinette fainting sofa

Loving this ....

2011 Diary from Frankie Magazine. Featuring illustrations throughout by creative lady Amy Borrell, week to a double page layout, birthday reminders and cute notes-to-self section. All presented in a hard cover, cloth bound book! Buy your copy here!

Music Monday: Azure Ray

Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink have reunited bringing back their duo Azure Ray with a new album, Drawing Down the Moon and tour. I am such a big of these ladies. Whether they are off doing their own solo thing or singing together with Azure Ray, nothing can stop them. I had the pleasure of hearing them sing together at the Haiti Music Benefit earlier this year and I can honestly say it was one of the best live performances I've ever been to. I haven't listened to the whole new album yet, but my ears are very excited! "Don't leave my mind"  (video below) is one of my favorites from their previous albums and is perfect for these chilly October afternoons! Happy Music Monday!

This Weekend: In Photos

If it goes as planned, my weekend should look a little like this:

1. Mark Ronson Concert (and potential backstage passes!)
2. Miike Snow Concert
3. Baking these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
4. Taking Scout to a puppy-training class with Silverlake-based famous dog trainer, Steve Brooks (as a gift from my very generous and amazing fairy godmother - thanks Beth!)

Will report back on Monday! What are you up to this weekend? Have a great one!

What Katie Ate: Guinness Chocolate Cake

I have recently become obsessed with the food and drink blog, What Katie Ate. (great title for a blog, dontcha think?) This phenomenal website is fronted by Katie Quinn Davies, an Irish graphic designer turned food blogger and photographer who now resides in Sydney, Australia. Katie has re-focused her creative abilities toward hatching a new-found career in food photography and food styling. Working out of her own fully-equipped studio in Sydney and taking all photographs in natural daylight, Katie often creates, styles, art directs and photographs food photography briefs from concept to completion. I fell in love with her recipe and photographs of her Guinness Chocolate Cake, and can't wait to test it out this fall!

Guinness Chocolate Cake Recipe

Cake Ingredients

•250 g (1 c. and 2 tbsp) unsalted butter

•250 ml (1 c.) Guinness

•75 g Dutch process cocoa ( 3/4 c.), sifted

•275 g (2 + 1/4 c.) all purpose flour, sifted

•2 tsp. baking soda

•400 g (2 c.) sugar

•2 medium eggs

•150 ml (2/3 c.) sour cream

•1 tbsp. good quality vanilla extract

Frosting Ingredients

•300 g (1 + 1/3 cup) cream cheese

•150 g (1+1/2 c.) powdered sugar, sifted

•150 ml (2/3 c.) cream, whipped

Cake Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Add butter, cocoa and Guinness to a saucepan. Warm over a medium heat and stir until melted. Set aside for 5 to 10 minutes to cool slightly.

2. Add flour, baking soda and sugar to a large mixing bowl and mix together well. Pour in the Guinness/cocoa/butter mixture, lightly combine, add the eggs and sour cream and beat everything together until well combined. The batter should be thick and dark chocolate in color.

3. Pour into a greased and lined 10″ angel food pan (or another straight-sided tube pan) and cook in the oven for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean from the centre of the cake.*Note: This cake is very moist inside, so use your judgment regarding the skewer test. Do not leave in the oven until the cake has totally dried out — cook long enough so there is no uncooked cake on the skewer but there may be a few moist crumbs sticking to it after an hour of cooking. [Please note: Katie baked this in an 8.5" x 3.5" pan. If you make this in a regular angel food cake pan, you should start checking for doneness at least 15 minutes early.]

4. Leave to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before removing from the cake tin and placing on a wire wrack to cool completely.

Frosting Instructions

1. Place the cream cheese into the bowl of a mixer and beat on a low-medium speed using a whisk attachment (I find a paddle attachment tends to over-beat the cheese). Whisk until the cheese is smooth and there are no big lumps remaining.

2. Gradually, using a large spoon, add in the sifted powdered sugar and beat gently to combine. After 2 to 3 minutes, stop the machine, scrape any excess frosting from the sides of the bowl and beat on medium speed until lump free.

3. Remove bowl from mixer and gently fold in the whipped cream, mixing to fully combine.
4. Place cooled cake on a cake stand and add the frosting, spreading out just to the edge without going over the side (never go over the sides of the cake) until the cake resembles a pint of the creamy black stuff! The idea is to capture the essence and simplicity of a pint of Guinness. Cheers!

Fall mix-tape giveaway winner!

Hi Everyone! The winner of the Fall Mix-Tape giveaway is: Amanda Smith!

Amanda Smith said...
Sigur Ros!

Congrats Amanda! Please shoot me an email with your address and I'll send the mix over to you this week!
Thanks everyone for your *awesome* fall music suggestions! Happy Hump Day!

Photos via Emmadime.

Loving this ....

New clothing line, Vernacular, by L.A. based designer, Savitri Young. Savitri designs clothing that is meant to be minimal, practical and fashion forward and is inspired by the modernist architectural concept of “liveability”. Don't you just want to curl up in these and lounge in a garden whilst drinking tea and eating crumpets? I say yes!

Music Mondays: A mix-tape Giveaway

Hi Everyone! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I spent a lot of time in bed trying to get better. Your suggestions really helped me so thank you thank you thank you! I did get out of the house a bit to enjoy a few things; I finally saw NEVER LET ME GO (a beautiful beautiful movie), tried the new downtown restaurant The Lazy Ox Canteen (the squash blossoms are TO. DIE.FOR), saw The Glass Menagerie (my favorite play) at the Mark Taper Forum and went to a secret Holly Miranda concert at an old guitar shop in Silverlake! That being said, It's Music Monday and we haven't done a giveaway in while so I'd like to offer up a Mix-Tape made my yours truly to celebrate Fall! Please leave a comment below with a song or artist that reminds you of Autumn and I'll choose a winner by Wednesday! Best of luck, petites!

Down & Out

Well, it's official. I have a very bad cold. I'm not surprised truthfully; these last 3 weeks have been filled with staying up late creating birthday party decorations, watching modern family and playing with the pup. Sleep has not been my priority. So I'll spend the weekend in bed eating chicken noodle soup and watching The Wire. What helps you feel better when you have a cold? Any suggestions welcome! And a happy weekend to you all!

Photo by we heart it.

Tales from the Troubador

I took B to her very first outing at the Troubador this week to see Jenny and Johnny perform. It was an incredible show and even though I never ever get star-struck, we spent the night rubbing elbows with Kirsten Dunst and (hold your breath) Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart (I was instantly a tween again)!! Jenny and Johnny played their whole new album, I'm Having Fun Now, and Jenny also ended the show with some older songs from Acid Tongue and Rabbit Fur Coat. I have to definitely admit it was one of the best shows I've ever been to. Edward Cullen and Bella Swan included.

P.S. If you are an L.A. Resident and couldn't make the Palladium or the Troubador Shows there is a FREE show this Sunday evening in Echo Park. Click here for details!  

Loving These ....

New Modern House Wines from Swanson Vineyards!  You can mix and match and build your own case of wine. How great would this gift be for the Holidays? I just love the packaging!