the traveling cupcake: friday favorites

Showing posts with label friday favorites. Show all posts

Friday, October 28, 2011

Friday Favorites...Anniversary Edition

Happy Anniversary!!

Three years ago this week we packed our bags and moved across the pond. Can you believe that?! Where does the time go...

I thought it would be fun to do a special anniversary edition of Friday Favorites in honor of the last three years - three action packed years at that. Our primary reason for moving was to take advantage of a new continent at our door step, and I think we've been doing a pretty good job...

Here are some of our favorite trips from the last three years -

*read more*

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Friday Favorites

For this weeks Friday Favorites I thought I would share with you some recipes that I have been making (and not taking pictures of). Because I do nearly all of my baking/cooking at night, when the light in our basement kitchen is not so great, I've decided not to whip out my camera every time I turn the oven on. But that doesn't mean I haven't been busy in the kitchen!

Pumpkin Granola via Two Peas & Their Pod
Ok, I've told you guys before it is dangerous for me to have granola in the house. Well, this Pumpkin Granola is no exception. This stuff is DANGEROUS - in the best way possible. I added almonds, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds to the mix before toasting in the oven. I made two packed baking sheets worth and there *might* be about 3/4 of a cup left...in less than two weeks...oops.

Chicken, Corn and Lime Soup via Epicurious
I made this soup a couple of weeks ago when Brian away on a business trip. I made the recipe exactly as is and no joke it fed me for a week. Add a little fresh cilantro, grated cheese and some crushed up tortilla chips and you are livin' the good life.

Red Wine Chocolate Cake via Smitten Kitchen
If there is one thing that you do this weekend - MAKE THIS CAKE. I am not joking. It is hands down one of the best chocolate cakes I have ever had. A coworker of mine thought it was a bit boozy, and while I probably wouldn't give it to your kids, the red wine definitely kicks it up a notch. The cake is super moist and dense without being too rich, and the red wine gives it a subtle spice that you don't normally find in regular chocolate cake. I didn't even put any frosting or powdered sugar or anything on it and it was still amazing. Deb (from Smitten Kitchen) referred to this as "the real red velvet cake" and I say AMEN to that.

What have you been baking or cooking in the kitchen lately? Have you been craving pumpkin and spices ready for fall or are you still trying to hang on to the last few days of summer? Share with me in the comments! Have a great weekend!

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Friday Favorites and Project 52 - the lost weeks

It has come to my attention that I have been neglecting my Project 52 recaps. Actually, I have been neglecting Project 52 as a whole. It's not that I've been doing it on purpose! I just...I just...

I just got lazy.

There, I said it.

L-A-Z-Y

I am a Taurus after all - what did you expect?!

Before I recap Project 52: the lost weeks how about time for Friday Favorites??

*DIY Tote Bag by Renske Solkesz via Design Sponge

image from Design Sponge

Although I would much rather have someone else make this bag for me (anyone? anyone?) this bag is so perfect its tempting to bust out my sewing machine and do it myself! Except that I left my sewing machine at my parents house. In New York. In the United States...

**Wet nail polish? Not anymore!

monkey nail drier

I mean....seriously.

Seriously?!

I'm half horrified and half OBSESSED. He's so cute! And I really do always mess up my nails before they dry...

*** "My favorite thing is to go where I have never been"

Me too, my friend. Me too.

And now...the moment you have ALL been waiting for!!

(pretend, ok?)

Project 52: the lost weeks

Week 30 - A letter of the alphabet

Ok, so there's more than one letter...

Week 31 - Sky

Hi Sky dog!

Week 32 - My favorite time of day...

Whenever the sun comes out!

Week 33 - Slow down and look back

Week 34 - Connections

Umm....yeah I don't know what happened here

Week 35 - Lazy

Yes, yes I am

Week 36 - Thirst for knowledge

Travel...cooking...and photography. The Traveling Cupcake.

Friday, September 02, 2011

Friday Favorites

Hello lovelies!

Thank G it was a short week this week. Recovering from a long weekend getaway is always tough...don't you feel bad for me?

This week was ushered in with bright sunshine and summer weather in the south of France and is exiting out the back with crisp fall temperatures (never mind that its been like that since July) and the start of a new month. A fall month at that. I have been whining for WEEKS about the cool temperatures, crisp chill in the air and having to wear pants and sweaters. Now, to my own defense the reason why I was complaining is because it was supposed to be summer. But now...ooohhh now - it's fall. So - bring on the cold weather, the cozy sweaters, hot apple cider and all things pumpkin. Come and get me fall - I've been practicing for two months!

(unless, of course, by some freak of nature we end up with a gloriously sunny and HOT weekend. Then - screw you fall! I'm breakin' out my flippy floppies and flippin' you the bird!)

(by which I have just officially scared off any chance of summer returning to London)

(you're welcome)

On to this weeks favorites! Chock full of randomness this week...enjoy!

*Weird Wedding Photos

Words cannot express how happy these two wedding photo collections make me. Amen for people taking wedding photos a little less seriously and a little more FUN! I'm not even going to put a teaser photo of them because they are too awesome, you have to look at all of them at the same time. Even if you don't like weddings AT ALL you at least have to check out the first one...I mean really, who can resist zombies?!

Zombie Wedding Photos

Real Wedding Album: Barbie and Ken

**Capes!

In my effort to embrace fall my eyes have been gravitating towards fun, cozy ways to keep warm this season. Always in need of a new jacket I can't help but think that this is the year I finally buy a cape (or poncho, whatever you want to call it). These have been on my radar for a few years now (and in stores all along the high street for ages), but as usual I am late to the party. Though I have to say, if you manage to get yourself a well made, classic piece it is bound to last you for decades. Enter - Burberry. Because really, who does a cape better than Burberry? No one.

Burberry Britt from Net-a-porter

A few more of my faves...

Aubin & Wills from Net-a-porter

Jumpjack Twill Poncho from French Connection

***The 25 Best Ice Cream Shops in the US - by Food & Wine

I am not kidding when I say this - I would base a whole cross country road trip around this list. Watch me, I dare you! Summer - Fall - Spring - Winter - whatever the season I am always down for ice cream! This list is seriously drool-worthy...have a napkin near by before jumping in!

25 Best - does your favorite make the cut?

****Metro Wine map of France

A wine map of France a la London tube? Genius! I might need to buy one to frame and one to take with me on trips to France!

photo from de long wine

Friday, August 26, 2011

Friday Favorites

Hello friends!

You know what time it is....time to get the heck outta dodge! I'm off this weekend to someplace that knows how to do summer right - Southern France! I can't wait to get my beach, wine and sunshine one!

To all of you in the UK - have a GREAT last bank holiday weekend, enjoy it because it's the last one until Christmas!

To all of your in the US - quit complaining, you get a long weekend next week!

To all of you elsewhere...um, hi. What's up? How are you?

*This jacket
Ok, I know I just said that I couldn't wait to get someplace warm and summer like, but this jacket makes me jones for the fall. Er, actually, I could have used it on July 1.

Jacket curtesy of Matches Fashion

And just as I was posting that photo to my blog I learned that that jacket is SOLD OUT!! I'm going to go cry in a corner now with a bottle of wine...

**Hard wood floors made from Guinness barrels
Oh yes, you read that correctly.

photo curtesy of Mountain Lumber Co

MMmmmm floors made from beeeer...kinda

***Doesn't this photo just make you happy?

Source unknown but I found it on The Stroller Coaster

That's how I kinda feel today!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday Favorites

Hello friends!

I think this week has been better than last, don't you agree? The sun is actually shining today, there weren't any riots this week and I am one week closer to a long bank holiday weekend. Win-win, am I right?

*Ok, I know I lead with shoes last week, but seriously?

found in Pinterest via prettyfrenemy

How could I not?!

And now, I need your help. Where on earth do I buy these shoes?! Ok, I'll stop with the ?! But for reals, I need help. I searched the original site, Pretty Frenemy, and found that they posted it from another blog. And that blog didn't have an original link. I tried reverse searching, image searching, typing-every-descriptive-word-into-the-google-search-bar sarching - and nothing! C'mon people, help a girl out. Where can I find these gorgeous things?! (sorry, one last ?! for good measure)

**This photography tutorial website

Get a quick lesson on pretty much anything you want to know about photography! From camera and photography basics to lighting to lenses to different subjects (macro, travel, architecture) this round up has it all! Just be sure to set a timer before you jump in - you could spend all day on there!

***This yogurt - La Fermiere

Ok, so this I didn't find on the internet but I have been obsessing over it ever since I found it a few weeks ago. I happen to find it while I was grabbing lunch one day in a deli that I don't normally go to. I think it was fate. Besides being the most delicious yogurt I have ever had, it comes in these little terra cotta pots! I really am obsessed with this yogurt. Its from France and I can only find it at this one deli. Its creamy and smooth and incredibly light in texture and in taste. Plus, think of all the amazing this you can do with these precious little pots.

You could make molten lava cake in them!

You could make homemade candles in them!

You could use them to store stuff in - like pencils or paperclips or q-tips!

You could fill them with pretty flowers and bunch together on a table...see? The possibilities really are endless.

Happy weekend everybody!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Friday Favorites

Hello lovelies!

Is it just me - or has this been one hell of a week?! Everything from AAA downgrades to market tumbles and riots in my own backyard.

WTF?!?!

Please excuse the schizophrenia of this weeks Friday favorites...clearly, it's been that kind of a week.

*These 8" Ballerina Christian Louboutin shoes

image courtesy of the Daily Mail

These are amazing/crazy/badass/cartoon-like/beautiful all at the same time. I think they fit the craziness theme of this past week, don't you? These Swarovski crystal encrusted beauties were created specially for an auction fundraiser for the English National Ballet back at the end on June. Check out the full article here in the Daily Mail.

**I WANT TO CTRL ALT DELETE YOU!

Also tips on this weeks craziness theme but seriously, you can't tell me that you have never felt like that article. Genius.

***The Happiness Project

image courtesy of The Happiness Project

I finished reading this book last week and it has resonated with me in more ways than I can count. I decided to read the book because I thought it would be a witty-light hearted account of one womans mission to be happier in her every day life for one year. It was that and so much more. It was more "self help" than I would have guessed but it brings up so many good points and so many (as Oprah says) "Ah-ha" moments that I can't seem to let go of. Even if you don't start your own "official" in-depth Happiness Project I guarantee that if you read this book you will start changing small things in your life that will make a big impact. AH HA!

and lastly...

****This mug

image courtesy of apiecebydenise on Etsy

Milk? Check.

Cookies? Check.

Only having to use one hand to carry milk + cookies = genius

Let's hope this weekend is the return to normalcy.

Friday, August 05, 2011

Friday Favorites

In case you were not aware, I spend way too much time on the internet. Like, way too much time. Often times everything that I read and watch and listen to leaves me so inspired and excited and...exhausted! My poor MacBook and iPhone really have their work cut out for them. So, I've decided to start a new series - Friday Favorites. It'll be a collections of my (favorite) things from the week - mostly from the internet, some from real life.

So, let's begin, shall we?

*Move by Rick Mereki

I found this video on Twitter via Conde Nast Traveler. If this doesn't inspire you to get off the couch and travel, I don't know what will! Every time I think that I have seen enough - I have traveled enough, I have been to enough places, I am tired and I just want to go home, things like this make me take it all back. Actually, it makes me want to pack a backpack and run as fast as I can to Heathrow and catch the next flight out to anywhere (ok, we are we kidding, I wouldn't run I would take the train), and start another adventure.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo

**This wedding video by Paperback Weddings
Ok, so the first two items of the very first Friday Favorites just happen to both be videos, what can I say? But seriously, you need to watch this video too. I bet you can't just watch the first 60 seconds. I found this video from Erin over at Apartment 34 (check out her blog too, its seriously kick-ass). As you know I am a big time lover of all things wedding. And I have inherited my mothers tendency to cry at tissue commercials (thanks a lot, mom!). But seriously, bring tissues for this one. Actually, the part about this video and this wedding that pulls at my heart strings isn't even so much the actual wedding...it's the story of this amazing couple that I don't even know one tiny little bit, and how you can see their love in every frame of this video.

nick+maria • england wedding from Paperback Weddings on Vimeo

***This amazing sweater-scarf-wrap-thing from Hermes.
My office is located in Mayfair, which is full of corporate offices (like mine), hedge funds, glamorous hotels (like Claridges), high end restaurants, flashy cars and luxury retailers galore. The most expensive street of them all is Bond Street, which I recently heard is the most expensive strip of real estate in Europe (even beating out the Champs-Elysees in Paris - Wiki heard it too!). Fortunately (and unfortunately) for me that means LOTS of eye candy staring me right in the face every day (except for when it rains, then I don't venture outside, I might melt). I have passed the Hermes store quite a few times this week and stop and stare at this window every time. It's like some sort of a bathrobe/scarf/wrap/blanket thing that I am pretty sure must be made of bear hugs and fairy kisses and it makes me want to crawl up inside of it and never get out.

How about you? Have you found something wickedly awesome on the internets this week? Share with me!

(Because, clearly, I need more distractions!)

Happy Friday everyone!

Like what you see?

Friday, October 28, 2011

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Friday, September 02, 2011

Friday, August 26, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Friday, August 05, 2011