Baking Recap

Anyone remember my post a few months back about my excitement on purchasing our very first Kitchenaid Mixer- the Professional one at that??!  Well shame on me for not posting the first official recipe that was made while using it.  Of course it had to involve peanut butter- what else?  So here goes:

Photos = Not that hot considering I was a hobo around the house all day, lighting in the kitchen is lame, and please don't judge my apartment style kitchen (it's horrid and my promise to myself and hubs is that when we are owners of a home, we'll design an awesome white, clean looking kitchen).  These renter's laminate countertops have been killing me for years now!

Getting Set up:

Getting the hang of it:

Waaa laaaa:

So I really wish I would have taken a final photo of the sandwich version, as these had a filling made and two cookies were pressed together with yum filling.  They were AMAZING!  Props to my awesome recipe from Cottage Living Magazine which I sadly misplaced the torn out recipe (boo)- but I found it online:

Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

Prep: 20 minutes; Bake: 12 minutes.

Yield: Makes 12 sandwich cookies

Ingredients

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets.

2. Beat together first 3 ingredients and 1/2 cup granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Stir in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Slowly stir flour mixture into peanut butter mixture until fully incorporated.

3. Scoop dough onto prepared cookie sheets, 1 rounded tablespoonful at a time, about 2 inches apart. (Dough should yield about 24 cookies.) Press cookies flat with the back of a fork dipped into remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Sprinkle cookies with any remaining sugar, if desired, and bake 12 minutes or until golden brown around edges. Remove from oven, and cool 5 minutes on pan; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Spread about 1 tablespoon Creamy Peanut Butter Filling onto flat side of 12 cookies, and top each with another cookie, flat side down, to make a sandwich.

Peanut Butter Filling:
Yield: Makes 1 cup

Ingredients
2 (3-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

5 tablespoons powdered sugar

Preparation
Beat all ingredients until smooth.

Official recipe here

These were awesome and I already want to make them again!  And a little tip:  If you make the sandwiches and put them in the refrigerator, they taste even better the next few days, as the cookies get soft from the filling- SWEET!

Did I mention this is all I've made in my mixer to date?  What is my problem- lame-o, I must get crackin on some more baking.  Anyone have any to-die-for recipes they'd like to share?

Natural Loves

So, people, have you ever found a natural or healthy product that is so amazing you can't get enough of it??!  This has happened to me more than once recently, so onward with the sharing:

Hubs has used Paul Mitchell Tea Tree hair products since way back, I mean way back when we first met like over 10 years ago.  Yes.  He's used these products, yet just recently did he emphasize the awesomeness of them to where I tried them myself.  OH MY FREAKIN GOSH.  I don't want to use anything else now.  The realness of the "tingle" your scalp gets, a fresh minty clean smell.  Ok, let me see if I can describe this how hubster did.

He says " You know that fresh minty taste you get in your mouth when you chew a strong minty gum"
Me: "Uh huh"
Him: "That's the feeling you get, but on your head"
Me (thinking): Hmmm,   mmmkay
Me (actually) shampooing my hair:  HOLY - S !!!!

So, if you actually spend time shampooing, I'm talking for a few minutes both shampoo then conditioner, you get this awesome sensation of coolness on your scalp- really you just have to try it to get the full effect.  Even when you towel off after your shower, the air hits your head and it's the most refreshing feeling (is this not like a commercial)?

Another WOW find came after a quick trip to the health market Henry's.  Funny enough, hubs and I were looking to pick up a dessert and I scouted some awesome looking cookies, I could just tell these things were going to be good just by looking at them. They looked soft, fresh, and the flavor being peanut butter chocolate chip locked me in.  They were such a must-have item that we picked them up off the shelf without even seeing a price listed for them (this is saying a lot since frugal me is always looking for a deal)!  They exceeded my expectations and better yet, they are a vegan cookies with less fat- does that mean I can eat more in one sitting?  Uncle Eddie's Vegan Cookies are made with highly quality and organic ingredients:

I hope to keep these finds rollin.  Funny how exciting a simple find can be.

Rad Wrap

So I have been a fan of Bonzie since I've been a fan of Etsy- a few years now, and I have forever wanted one of her awesome boleros.  These things are amazingly beautiful, although I'm not sure how often I'd have a chance to wear one, I would make an effort if I had it in my wardrobe.  Loving this gray one:

Found at Bonzie's shop on Etsy

Missing Maui Much

All I can say today is that I'm missing Maui (and can't wait to return with hubs next year)

Childrens Inspiration

Maybe I do have baby fever, or I'm just stumbling on awesome children's things lately.  It's no surprise that I'm addicted to Etsy (since S&S is really a job, yet a fun job), I'm always snooping around other shops and there are so many talented people and designers out there.  My sister has been gradually passing on her baby items lately for hubs and I to store in our garage until the time is right.  I have to admit, all the goodies we are being gifted is not going to leave much for us to get on our own.  *sweetness*

Here are some more awesome finds I stumbled on:

Zfla on Etsy

Pilosale on Etsy

Handmadebabylove on Etsy

Thetrendytot on Etsy

Sycamorestreetpress on Etsy

Natural Children's Wear

Oooopsy, it's happened again, life gets crazy and posting gets light!  Ugh, I miss my little blog when I don't get to post daily!

So, not that I have baby fever- I've just been noticing sweet things lately.  I've decided that the clothing line from Suvi Ainoa is more than awesome!  I've decided that when hubs and have our first child, whether it be a boy or girl, the child will be wearing the awesome linen suspender pants- so adorable!

Photo via Design Mom of Suvi Ainoa

We also attended a baby shower for hub's friend, whose wife is due in August with their first child- a boy!  I actually had a blast pulling together a goody box for the baby, as I became pretty resourceful and was stoked on how it turned out.  I think I may have even mumbled "Dang, this is awesome, I'd want this if someone made it for me"!  Oh really, did I say that?  Um yeah, I was just that excited!  Here's what hubs and I came up with for them:

It was a bath set including a hippo animal bath wrap from Pottery Barn Kids, a bath cleansing set from PB kids, baby brush set and Q-tips, white Organic Gerber onsies, Mommy calling cards I made her using the elephant design from Restoration Hardware Baby and Kids to include her name, email, and phone number.  Everything was put together in a natural grass cloth box that could be used in the baby's nursery for storage.

What do you think?  If you were expecting, would you enjoy this box?

Quite a Bit of Busy

This past weekend, as are many, was consumed by S&S Etsy orders.  I'm so pleased to be working with Jen again and just had to share her bouquet tags- so bright, so tropical, so refreshing, so Maui!

I'm so thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Jen throughout this next year.  Hey Jen, you're getting close to that one year mark!  Yes I will make your chair signs, yes I will design your hanging sign, yes I will work with you on door hanging suite signs- what else can we do???!!  Seriously, I want to be Jen's designer and if hubs and I weren't going to Maui earlier next year, I may have already asked Jen to be her official Day of Coordinator- haha!  Isn't it suppossed to be the other way around?

Oh Dang- It's Finally Friday

Heck Yes- it's Friday!!!  Can't wait until I step foot in the door at home at 4:30 P.M., this means I officially have tons of Etsy orders to complete, laundry to get done, and a perfect hubs to hang with!  Sweet!  Have a good one!

Aqua Love

Just a few aqua items to smile at:

Photo via Corporanglass on Etsy

Photo via Vesselsandwares on Etsy

Photo via Paperlovelypress on Etsy

Photo via Twigs and Honey on Etsy

Photo- personal Maui trip

A-lo-haaaaaaa

I've had the opportunity to work with some amazing people since my Etsy shop opened a few months back.  I am so grateful for the bride's I've worked with and continue to work with.  I've made some amazing friendships and couldn't feel happier for these ladies as I help with planning even a small design detail in their special day.  When I really sit back and think about it, it's quite amazing that something I design will be incorporated in a couple's most special day- wow! 
I've been working with Margo on some wedding items, and I've told her that I can start an entire collection from her designs.  It's been a great working with her as her colors are so close to my own wedding color palette and she's another Hawaiian wedding client!  So fun.  Here's a bit of what we've been up to:

Hang tags for her welcome boxes

Place cards / favor tags

Bouquet Tags

Welcome Guides for her guests

Her table numbers- still in progress

She's also got an amazing table runner in progress, can't wait until that's completed as well! Sweet clients make me smile, Margo is one of them!  Thanks for allowing me to design elements for your special day Margo!

Party Like A Rockstar!

I've had the pleasure of helping out a friend as she's planing a bachelorette party for one of her friends.  She gave me total design freedom to help design some things for the party and it was a total blast.  I'm loving the colors and fun rockstar vibe of it all!!! 

I covered and designed a box (which will hold all their crazy tasks they must complete during a night out on the town)- SO FUN!

I also designed name tags for them to wear lanyard-style around their necks with pink ribbon, these have got to be my fave!  Fairly simple project, just Googled some images of crowns and splatters, used a bit of Photoshop, and they were completed!

I hope this party ROCKS!!!

I'm Here......Really

Chaos has been the past few days, and so shall the rest of the week.  Etsy is keeping me busy this week yet again, but as I continue on projects and re-connect with past clients, it keeps the excitement rolling (Jen, you know I can't wait to make your sign)!!!

So with keeping busy, I still find the little things around the house that poke at me, wanting to be done.  We still need to update several photos in frames, spruce up the bed with an additional Euro pillow and possibly new sheets, paint and re-upholster our French desk chair, and most likely lots more.  We did invest in some new sofa pillows from Pottery Barn and OH I'm loving them so much!  Keep in mind this is a big step into store-bought pillow covers, as I usually make them myself (I guess that's what busy will do to ya).  Here's what we picked out:

Bamboo buckle pillow in white:

Solid pillow in fresa blue

Coral pillow in blue

And we bought this white one last winter, but still loving it!

Small steps in updating the house, but it's comfy, hubs and I have each other, and at the moment we are content with that!  By the way, when I throw around the word "house" loosely, I'm referring to our apartment!

Love No.2

Another Love sign series was posted in the shop yesterday, found here.  It was fun making this version, just something a bit classic to it, yet fun with the pop of fuschia!  I've love to see this pretty little thing in a photo shoot, strapped to a bike, hanging in a child's room- oh the possibilities!

Wedding Memories

So, there's not a simpler way to put it- but yes, I lag on getting our wedding photos up around the house and printed out.  We have not one wedding photo displayed in our home!  How bad is this?  It's been almost a year since D and I got married and it's time to get crackin.  Photography was our number one splurge/must have for our wedding, yet we have not fully taken advantage of the amazing results we received.  We cannot be more stoked with our photographer Ian Shepherd of Photographer's Hawaii for capturing so many special moments of the most perfect day.  Perhaps there are just too many photos we love, that we cannot be selective as to what we should display.  I don't want to turn our home into a wedding shrine, but I do want to choose a few special ones.  Oh the choices!

Any ideas on which one should be framed and placed on my nightstand?